Designs to make you dizzy
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Thailand's creative talents gets a chance to flash their stuff at a new shop inside the Thai Craft Market
A POPULAR place for local artists, designers, artisans and jewellers to sell their wares, the Thai Craft Market zone of Amarin Plaza is also home to the Creative Arena, a space that invites rookies in the trade to showcase lifestyle products that combine traditional Thai culture with modern techniques.
It’s owned and run by new-wave entrepreneur Firm Hongsananda, who says he came up with idea from running an outlet of the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand.
“I realised that most home-grown designers had no place to show their works and that it would be good to do something about that,” he says. He opened Creative Arena a few month later, picking his venue to target the large market of foreign tourists shopping for innovative and inexpensive gifts to take back home.
“Tourists are always after gifts that are different but represent the Thai culture. Many even snap them up for home. We stock selected quality products from more than 10 small suppliers, none of whom have the means to produce merchandise for the mass market, and we alternate the products every couple of months,” he says.
It’s a formula that has proved popular, particularly with visitors from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. The goodies include hand-painted ceramics by artists from Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya along with aromatic organic soaps and mosquito repellent made from herb, plant and flower extracts from Nra and QI.
Jewellery designer Fonthip Tangviriyamate offers delicate hand-made accessories made from different materials and based on traditional goldsmithing techniques.
Rubber Killer from Chiang Mai demonstrates its eco-friendly ideas through smart durable shoulder bags, pencil bags and wallets made from truck tyres while Re-Pair comes up with recycled speakers for the iPod made from bottles.
The better-known Qualy brand presents funky kitchenware and accessories like seasoning shakers with a winter theme plus with keyholders shaped like birdhouses and mirror wipes.
Firm’s own boutique corner sports casual outfits made from quality cotton. The designs are simple but smart in the details and include plain green tees with pockets boasting hilltribe embroidery and hand-woven silk scarves.
A new selection of iPhone cases fashioned from different materials will be launched soon.
GETTING CRAFTY
>>Creative Arena is located on the third floor of Amarin Plaza. It’s open daily from 10am to 7.30pm. Call (02) 650 4600.
