Issue 41

Founder and creative director of Carletta Jewellery, Surasak Maneesathianrattana talks about the brand, its concepts and how the business is heading in a new direction to continue its growth.

How was Carletta established?
The brand was established in 2011. I suppose being born to a jewellery family has made me familiar with the materials and tools of a goldsmith and it is one of many inspirations that led to me getting into this business. Each Carletta collection has a story behind it and is thoughtfully-designed by me. When we first started, our products were mainly for women but recently we have launched unisex jewellery items as well.

What are the characteristics of the brand?
Carletta jewellery pieces represent originality and splendid designs that are inspired from the beauty of nature. They are made from silver, bronze, precious and semi-precious stones. They are not formal, but rather casual and boast the confidence of the wearers, representing a modern lifestyle and carefree attitude. Some models are produced as limited pieces to ensure their uniqueness and quality.

What awards have you won?
We have received many awards. Some of them are from the DITP, which includes Talent Thai 2013 and 2015, and ASEAN Talent 2014. We also won the Emerging Designer 2013 from the Department of Industrial Promotion.

Who are your main customers?
Our client ratio currently is 70:30 (local to international). Our main export markets include Sweden, Taiwan and Japan. Our products are readily available at Siam Centre, and we have shops selling the products in hotels located in Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi.

What are the strengths of Thailand’s jewellery industry?
Thailand is known for its natural resources, affordable labour costs and highly skilled workforce. In addition, we enjoy the advantage of modern technology, which enables the country to enhance product quality and to remain competitive in the market. We also have an effective logistics system, which promotes trade efficiency and potential growth for the industry.

What are your plans for 2016?
Currently our products are sold mainly in Thailand but our plan now is to increase our sales to both local and foreign customers, especially for the latter group we will offer more customised products and services to meet their needs. We are rather flexible with the orders, as long as the customers are happy with what they purchase from us. We hope this will also help us create brand awareness with jewellery lovers.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/carlettajewellery