Made for the slow life

Feeling overwhelmed by life in the fast lane, Anutra Ungsuprasert quit her job as an editor for Nation Junior magazine five years ago and took the pace down a few notches by launching her own line of aromatic skincare products and home accessories under the label Delibodi.

With the concept of slowing life down, Delibodi’s fragrant products made from natural ingredients include hand cream, body lotion, shower gel and scented candles, all created to let you savour time with yourself and loved ones. 

 In keeping with the philosophy, Anutra has let the business grow organically by word of mouth, and two years after its founding Delibodi still had no permanent outlets of its own. But she and her two partners, Sataporn Nuallaong and Akarit Leeyavanich – the guys run graphic design firm Default Associates – have finally decided to set up their own shop, called Made, at new riverfront mall Asiatique to discover what people actually think about their products.

“Although we love to savour the slow life, we don’t want our business going slowly,” jokes Anutra. “So far, we have sold our products through other shops, so we don’t know who our customers are. We keep asking ourselves whether there is room in the market for our ideas. Having our own shop, we will get the answer. But having been open for just 10 days, we believe we are on the right track.”

Made doesn’t limit itself to just Delibodi stuff, but has a wide selection of eye-catching products also available to cheer up your home. The shop has an eco-friendly vibe with wooden shelves offering bright ideas for everyday life – from fragrant products, handicrafts, clothing, fashion accessories and houseware, to works of art.

So far the products come from 15 partners – most of them local designers. Among them are notebooks hand-made by Nauli, Papermint and Obasan from quality paper sandwiched by attractive graphic covers. Nearby sit soft pillows and dolls made from Japanese cotton by Cherrijame, while Vanilla Vintage’s collection of sleek tablecloths, hand towels, slippers and face scrubs come from a little further afield – Lithuania. 

Thought has also gone into the stylish selection of bags. There are two-tone earth totes by Spoonful Zakka along with Lapin canvas bags that come in polka-dot or plain colour, offered side by side with characterful crocheted totes and clothing made by Anutra’s “auntie” neighbour. Also catching the eye are wooden candleholders and ceramic bowls by Bahari and prints made from original paintings by young artist Suthipa Kamyam. 

Meanwhile the Delibodi line offers body lotions, hand creams and shower gels in four scents. Sensual refreshment is covered by Mandarin Poetry’s extract of lemon and orange, or for more zing try Ginger Theory’s peppermint and ginger. If you need a stress-busting scent go for Tea Culture made from Oolong, or the subtle Olive Serif. 

For relief at the end of those long busy days, Made has hand-poured aromatic candles made of non-toxic soy wax that are soot-free. They come in three fragrances – Zen Valley (bamboo and citrus), Tuscany Garden (olive) and Borneo Native (mixed flowers). More soothing natural scents are offered by essential oil blends extracted from seeds, flowers, leaves, fruits, barks and roots of different aromatic herbs.

“We try to select products with a vintage and softer feel. Rather than vivid shades, we go for warm tones of white, cream, blue, brown and navy blue. Handmade is the main key,” explains Anutra. 

The shop is also keen on hand-made fresh ideas from local designers. If you think your goodies are a good fit, feel free to e-mail [email protected].

   

SCENT IT OUT

>> Made is at Warehouse No 8 in Asiatique the Riverfront on Charoenkrung Road. It’s open daily from 5pm to 11pm. 

>> Call (081) 432 3860. Visit www.Delibodi.com or www.AsiatiqueThailand.com.