Issue 30
Few people would imagine that the sleek black-and-white wicker furniture and fashion items on display at prestigious department stores in Bangkok have such humble roots as VARNI.
As a child growing up in the Southern part of Thailand, Manattapong Senghuad, VARNI’s designer and brand owner, was surrounded by krajude or bulrush, a natural grass typically found in the peat swamp forests of Pattalung province. Locals would flatten the grass before weaving it into common household items such as baskets and mats. A decade later, after finishing his studies, Senghuad returned home to the local craftspeople in his community to give the traditional krajude a fresh lease of life.
“I was deeply inspired by the local wisdom [of weaving krajude] and I tried to make it more contemporary,” says Senghuad, “In my mother’s time krajude was woven into mats, baskets and kitchenware. Now the brand is developing it into more of a lifestyle product.”
VARNI’s collections now range from stylish hats, bags, baskets, to furniture like coffee tables and stools in various colours and styles from playful to sleek. The brand has also been widely praised for its use of local material and modern designs.
“We received a DEmark from the DITP and also a Gmark from Japan,” says Senghuad, “Mostly we would focus on the products’ traditional design and give it a modern twist.”
According to Senghuad, his designs are often inspired by nature such as his blue designs that resemble the ocean and patterns reflecting waves in water. As 60% of the products are exported to countries such as Japan, the UK and other European countries, he is constantly aware of the different preferences of his export markets.
“From my experience, Japanese clients would prefer a natural look and colours like blue and purple, while our clients in the UK would choose products dyed in black and white,” says Senghuad, “We always research the markets we go to, and now we’re also entering China, Vietnam and South Korea.”
Staying true to its local roots, VARNI’s products are still handmade in the local community, preserving traditional craftsmanship while new designs are added each season. Senghuad has also established a local learning centre to share his passion with those interested in the art of weaving krajude.
“We opened up our home as a learning centre and a tourist attraction in the village. Visitors can see the weaving process and buy products right there,” says Senghuad, “A few months ago we had twenty students from Italy coming in to see how we work.”
VARNI products can be found at Central Embassy, Amarin Plaza and King Power Duty Free Shops.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/varniwickery
Words by Sirinuch Borsub
Issue 29
Surrounded by a mangrove forest in Samut Prakarn, Bangkok Tree House is as close to nature as you can get.
To reach the Bangkok Tree House, guests can only travel by boat, foot, or bike, as the hotel is not accessible from the local road, lending the hotel a secluded and private atmosphere.
The breezy, open-air lobby and restaurant welcoming the guests into the hotel is decorated to blend in with nature, using bamboo as flooring, walls and ceilings, while preserving as much of the natural mangrove trees as possible.
“When Khun Joey [Jirayu Tulyanond] designed the hotel, he tried to cut down very few trees and built the rooms between the mangrove trees,” says Tanatorn Wittayasiripaiboon, manager of Bangkok Tree House.
Tulyanond, who has a passion for cycling, wanted to build a resort near Bangkok, and talked to the local community before opening the doors to Bangkok Tree House in 2012. The hotel now has 11 rooms, with different themes inspired by nature such as the Bee Hive and the Tree-Top Nest.
“Half of the guests who come to stay with us would be foreigners, and the other half would be young Bangkokians looking for a place to relax, chill out, and take photographs with their friends,” says Wittayasiripaiboon.
“I think what sets us apart is that Bangkok Tree House is near the city but has a very calm atmosphere. Guests would say they feel like they’re away from the city,” says Wittayasiripaiboon. “A lot of cyclists who are passing through the area would drop by to visit the restaurant here.”
Overlooking a quiet part of the Chao Phraya river, the restaurant serves Thai and international fare, with an emphasis on fresh produce and organic ingredients. Guests can expect to find sustainable seafood, vegan options and menus that rotate according to whatever is available on that day.
Wittayasiripaiboon says that the hotel is staying true to its eco roots by using various methods to lower energy use, from carbon-free cooking, efficient energy lighting, and utilizing renewable energy. Bath amenities and food products are all sourced from traders in the area to support the local community.Looking into the future, Wittayasiripaiboon says that the hotel plans to develop more bakery and beverages items for walk-in cyclists, while also offering more activities for guests.
“For 2015, we’re looking into organising activities where travellers can connect with the local community, such as cycling tours to explore the area.”
Words by Sirinuch Borsub
Issue 27
Hotels can give back to nature as much as they take out. Thailand Horizon visits a resort whose ethos is most firmly rooted in the organic produce it uses.
The abundant greenery and classic wooden Thai-style houses may initially draw visitors to this resort just outside of Bangkok, but what makes Sampran Riverside so welcoming is its dedication to preserving Thailand’s cultural heritage through its 40-year-old Thai Village Cultural Centre, and its attempt to promote an organic lifestyle to city-dwellers.
“Sampran Riverside has been a family-run business for 53 years,” says Arrut Navaraj, managing director of Sampran Riverside and third generation of the family. “We let our visitors experience the Thai way of life through activities in our Thai Village, from cooking, making flower garlands, weaving, to rice farming, among many other options.”
Issue 28
The global trend towards alternative, complimentary and traditional medicine is one shared by Thailand.
Traditional health products and medicines have played an important part in the development of Thai culture, but do they also have a role in its economic future? Ak-kharaphat Tangtrongchitr certainly thinks so.
The owner and managing director of Jisprapat Limited Partnership that has produced Thai herbal inhaler Cher-aim since 2001, is saddened by the loss of many of its traditional medicinal products.
However, he believes that a reduction in such imports could help stimulate the Kingdom’s economy. “If we reduce using chemical medication from abroad, Thailand will not have to import a lot and the national economy will be improved.”
Tangtrongchitr is the fourth generation of a family steeped in the traditions of Thai medicine.“In the beginning, the production of pharmaceutical formulations mainly came from my grandfather, because he was very interested in traditional medicine,” says Tangtrongchitr, who adds that his ancestor developed formulas based on textbooks and discussions with teachers of traditional medicine at Wat Pho in Bangkok.Today, Tangtrongchitr’s sister runs one family company Yatrabaipo, which manufactures Ya Kiew powdered herbs and Ya Gwad oral cure, while he is in charge of Cher-aim. “Ya Kiew Trabaipo helps reduce fever and heat, relieves thirst and [combats] measles and chickenpox. Ya Gwad Trabaipo formulations came from my great grandfather. It is used on children.”The use of modern technology and machinery has helped develop the product from powder into a more convenient tablet. Both forms are still sold, mostly in the domestic market, though also through distributors in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, the US, Australia and in shops in various Asian countries.
The Cher-aim inhaler is made from Thai herbs, which Tangtrongchitr claims have beneficial health effects.
“With our intention to produce the product from nature, we have a mixture of eaglewood, which helps heart care as certified by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand,” he says. “At present, we have many selections and sizes of herbal products as required such as borneol oil inhaler, aromatic balm, yellow embrocation and fragrant camphor.”
Cher-aim
Jisprapat Limited Partnership
430/32 Issarapap Road, Bangokyai, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
+66 2 891 2324,
www.cheraim.com
Words by Natthinee Ratanaprasidhi
Issue 26
A contemporary Thai house set within a lush green garden, Divana Spa offers award winning spa services with that essential Thainess.
Keeping things fresh is the key behind Divana Spa’s success, according to its principal, Pattanapong Ranuraksa.
“We have operated our spa since 2001, and now we have five branches with different focuses on health and wellness,” he says. “We’ve tried to keep an innovative concept in all possible areas starting with personnel development, functional interiors like the lighting in our spa rooms, as well as products and services.”
Another reason for the spa’s success has been staying true to its roots. “I believe that the international standard service together with Thai wisdom and Thai touch we have valued, have brought us this far,” says Ranuraksa.
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