Harvesting trends

LEADING PREMIUM gift manufacturer Ittiphat Trading is adding colour to the lifestyle goods segment with the introduction of popular Taiwanese brand Vacii to Thai shoppers.

Fun but functional, and also environmentally friendly, the range of colourful goodies covers everything from iPhone cases to USBs.

Established several years ago by a Taiwanese engineer, Vacii shot into the public eye in 2013 when it was selected as one of the 10 up-and-coming Taiwanese design brands in Taiwan Design Centre’s “Fresh Taiwan” project. 

Last year Itiiphat’s managing director Hataicharnok Walanchai was in Taiwan for the annual Creative Expo and fell in love with the brand. Always one for spotting a profitable opportunity, she returned home with the licenses to sell Vacii and iThinking products in her hands. 

“Taiwanese brands personify creativity and are always coming up with new technology. The quality of the goods is high and they also offer products at a reasonable price. My interest is in helping people manage their personal space both at home and office and so I focus on interesting merchandise that suits the lifestyle of the young generation,” Hataicharnok says.

“Vacii’s signature is its vivid hues and eco-friendly material.”

The name means ‘harvest’ in Chinese and the products take their inspiration from local plants, flowers and the Taiwanese culture. The main materials are good-grade silicone that is easy to wash and solid wood.

“The design is based on Chinese beliefs but also looks modern with a distinct East meets West style. I particularly like the colourful iPhone cases that combine silicone with traditional woven textiles,” Hataicharnok says. 

Among the best-sellers are light stations that are equipped with two 

 charger sockets and look like trees, flowers and mushrooms – they double as mobile phones stands too – and cable binders shaped to resemble cacti, bow-ties, sprouts, sunflowers and tulips. 

There are also playful wooden magnets that double as clip holders in the form of spinning tops, rattle drums and the diabolo.

The new-wave iThinking brand, meanwhile, features screwdrivers in different sizes and shapes including penguins and owls.

“Vacii is launching a collection of accessories for the Apple Watch and a power bank that can turn into a lamp,” Hataichanok says. 

“We’re adding two more new brands from Taiwan to our list soon. C & M Audio offers quality headphones, designed by a veteran sound engineer while Hao Shi is famous for resin home decor items.”

Vacii’s collections are available at Betrend and Loft and from the Central Online website.