FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Fresh victory in Vienna

Fresh victory in Vienna

Thai designers once again take Fashion Week in the Austrian capital by storm


Four young Thai designers had heads spinning at Vienna Fashion Week last month with delicate cutting, Asian flavours and neon colours.
For the second year in a row, four Thais were the only Asians invited to participate, thanks to continuing cooperation between event organiser Zigi Mueller and Chitvipa Pitaksithikul, director of the Thai Trade Centre in Vienna.
“One of our goals is to increase the competitiveness of Thai designers abroad,” Chitvipa said. “We have to spread the word that our designers are tops in quality and creativity, and at the same time provide a venue for them to show their work.
“It might not generate a lot of export volume right now, but we hope these young designers will grow together with an event like this.”
Mueller praised the Thai Department of Export Promotion for opening doors. The response to last year’s show was overwhelming, she said.
“Many people were talking about them and wanted to have their clothes. The only problem was the size – Austrian sizes are not Asian sizes!” she laughed. But the first-timers learned a lesson.
Mueller attended the Bangkok International Fashion Fair to select the four designers for this year’s event in Vienna.
“I picked the ones that stuck with me the most. They have their own character and represented their ideas very clearly, which is very important.
“But Thailand has so much potential. I could pick another four if I went back right now.”
Whisked off to Austria were Chatkeo Srisuwan of Mosstories, Nisara Liptawat from Dusk Till Dawn, Weerapol Wiwatkamolwat of Maibe and, making a return appearance, Chalermkiat Khatikasemlert of Wonder Anatomie.
“Wonder Anatomie has shown much improvement in both style and creativity – the neon collection is unbelievable!” said Mueller.
“Chalermkiat is a designer and an artist. When he designs he also thinks, ‘Would I be comfortable wearing this?’ His clothes look great whether you sit, stand, walk or stretch. His cutting and stitching is incredible – they fit both informal and formal occasions.
“If he continues like this, he will really go places.”
Chalermkiat – whose designs had appeared in Austrian magazines prior to the show – was delighted to be back in Vienna again. This time he offset his usual sombre tones with vivid hues in his “Anatomie Phenomena” collection.
As to the size issue, he not only offered more sizes in the clothing this year, he broadened the choice of accessories, including butterfly-shaped wristbands.
Thammasart University honours graduate Chatkeo Srisuwan started out selling hand-made accessories and studied shoemaking in London before opening shops in Siam Square and the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. She’s been producing full lines of clothing since last year.
Chatkeo took her “Modern Vintage” collection to Vienna. It was inspired by Art Deco architecture but given a modern twist in geometric shapes. “It plays with contrasts in sharp cuts and light fabrics,” she said. “Together with vintage colours, it creates exciting textures and dimensions.”
Nisara Liptawat, an honours alumnus of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, found inspiration in the winged seraphim – the angel who sings to God – in a ready-to-wear collection for both women and men.
In the layers of the wings – and in a cathedral's architectural motifs – she saw clothing of an unconventional structure.
Weerapol Wiwatkamolwat’s “Senses” line uses a different bright colour for six different women’s moods. Weerapol, who is also a personal shopper at Top Shop Bangkok, said he cut his clothes specifically to enhance a woman’s beauty. “These dresses have elements of vintage dresses, but they’re more cheeky and cheerful.”
The Thai quartet showed 80 outfits in 40 minutes, earning an appreciative ovation. “The applause was so loud that it surprised me,” Nisara beamed.
“Many people came up to me afterward and described exactly which pieces they liked and why. That they could see what I’d tried to represent with each piece just completely chased away all my tiredness.”

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How it’s done

Vienna Fashion Week, first held in 2009, features some 70 designers from around the world. It also includes “business-to-business” events where buyers can place orders and has stalls where the designers can sell their wares directly to the customers.

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