Where the old is still gold
His and Her Vintage turns back the fashion clock at the Scala theatre
KULTHIDA MANEERAT and Subrat Misra’s fascination with flea markets while pursuing their doctorates at university in Hawaii has turned into a boon for Bangkok shoppers.
They first opened a small boutique there to share the contents of their bulging closet and the income covered their tuition fees. Then, on returning home in 2008, they opened the shop His & Her Vintage at Chatuchak Weekend Market. That turned out to be just the start.
“We wanted to share our passion and earn some money, so we had the used-clothing shop in Hawaii,” Kulthida says of their winding road to established success.
“When we got back to Bangkok I worked as an instructor for a few months and then we opened the shop in Chatuchak. The response was great, especially among younger people and tourists, so we moved to a community mall, and when that closed last year we moved to Scala Theatre. It’s an even better spot!”
The shop is small and minimalist, all wooden shelves and glass cabinets, but the whole range of classic gear is available. There are still some of the second-hand clothes from the 1950s to the ’80s like the ones they used to import from New York, Los Angeles and Europe for sale in Hawaii. Joining them are cat’s-eye sunglasses dating back to the ’50s and other vintage shades by Christian Dior, Luxottica and Carrera. There are beautiful 1960s floral hats by Dior and hand-knitted handbags from the 1940s.
Metallic clutch bags with a chain strap that French brand Whiting & David made in the ’50s and ’60s (“a trend-setter for the middle-hook bag,” Kulthida explains) look great alongside 50-year-old enamelled brooches adorned with hand-carved seashells.
There’s antique jewellery from Monet, Trifari, Sarah Conventry, Avon and Van Dell and acetate frames for your specs by Victory, Kono and TWE. One corner of the shop is full of old transistor radios and classic cameras by Leica, Kodak and Pentax.
“We have distributors in the US and Europe, so customers can be assured that our products are genuine and of good quality,” says Kulthida. “All of the sunglasses and optical frames and the jewellery are featured in catalogues we stock, even the brands that have since shut down.”
CLASSIC TASTES
>>> His and Her Vintage is on the ground floor of Scala Theatre on Siam Square Soi 1.
>>> It’s open daily from noon to 8.30pm.
>>> Find out more at www.Facebbok.com/HisAndHerVintage
