What a corker!

Among the new designers to have received the nod from the Department of International Trade Promotion this year is Supawadee Kaewkum. She’s the owner of the small boutique ZM Bangkok located on the second floor of the Siam Vintage shopping community in Siam Square, which she runs along with a friend. It offers vintage-style clothing along with some beautiful bags and a range of attractive fashion gadgets.

The boutique’s name is a play on their brands Mazmoizelle and Zhowcase. Supawadee, 26, established Mazmoizelle last year as a label for her bags made from cork. 

“I wanted to introduce this new material to the fashion market. Actually, it’s the outer bark of the Quercus suber or cork oak tree. It comes in a sheet and has various textures. I import it from Korea and China. It’s flexible, light, sticky, water-resistant and easy to clean, making it ideal for producing bags,” says Supawadee, an industrial design graduate of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. “I make leather and canvas bags too.” 

Supawadee focuses on functionality and good cutting and now offers more than 40 designs of handbags, totes, shoulder bags, briefcases, clutch bags, messenger bags, iPad and iPhone cases and wallets. The bags are strengthened with either light or hard frames and padded with fabric or leather to ensure durability. Prices range from Bt590 to Bt3,390. Supawadee plans to launch a new collection of cork iPhone cases, hats, notebook covers and home furnishings soon.

“My cork bags are very popular with customers from Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong,” says Supawadee.

Also in stock in the friendly boutique are vintage-style outfits by Zhowcase, with graphic motifs influenced by traditional Thai architecture and Thai numbers. Fashion hunters will find cotton T-shirts, skirts, blouses, trousers, shorts and colourful scarves made from chiffon and spun silk.

The pals also have a branch at Chutachak Weekend Market, section 3, Soi 43/1.

 

BAGGING IT UP

ZM Bangkok is located on the second floor of Siam Vintage, Siam Square Soi 10. It’s open daily from noon to 8pm. Call (085) 557 5721, (081) 992 9901 or visit their pages on Facebook/mazmoizelleshop and zhowcase.