Comfort in a cotton cocoon

TUCKED AWAY off Lat Phrao Soi 71, fashion and bedding store Fabric Living is doing a roaring trade at its new home at Soi Nak Niwat 38. Open just a few months, the shop and the brand belong to Orapan Tangviriya, a graduate of Rangsit University’s motion picture and video department, whose family owns a screening and printing factory. 

She’s been in the business for more than a decade. Her first shop at Chatuchak Weekend Market, which offered hand-screened T-shirts featuring designs inspired by cartoon characters, nature and simple messages, came into the public eye when it was discovered by singer Palmy. 

Despite Asia being in the throes of an economic crisis, her small business grew and a few years later she renamed it Fabric Living and expanded the product line to include bed linen and other household necessities, all made from super-soft pure cotton.

“I wanted to earn some money when I graduated from university so I decided to sell t-shirts. It wasn’t so difficult as I had learned screen techniques at the family factory. I kept the designs simple: some had a single word ‘fabric’ screened on them. Before long, I introduced plain tank tops and dresses. I then spread my wings further and launched a range of bedding made pure cotton and renamed the brand Fabric Living.” Orapan says. 

“In 2011, I opened a new branch at Crystal Design Centre though I closed it at the end of last year.”

Her new premises combine a chic boutique with a friendly coffeeshop and a screening and printing studio. The cafe is on the ground floor and seats 15. Further inside is the boutique, which stocks a range of casual apparel in vivid shades like lime, green, pink, blue, purple, red, yellow and orange as well as the more sedate brown, black, navy blue, grey and white.

“I only use pure cotton. The weaving technique ensure that the clothes and furnishings are ventilated, comfortable and soft to the skin,” she says. 

The range includes cropped blouses, tank tops, T-shirts, polo dresses, maxi dresses, long skirts and shorts – all in free size and ideal to wear with jeans. 

Also on sale are bedcovers and sheets in single, queen and king size, pillowcases, polyester-filled quilts, bolster cases and body-size pillowcases. Prices range from Bt170 to Bt2,750.

 

 

COOL AND FRESH

>>Fabric Living is located at 6/33, Soi Nak Niwat 38 off Soi Lat Phrao 71. 

>>It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 8pm. Call (081) 310 2266 or visit FabricHome page on Facebook.