Issue 16
As a newly industrialised nation, Thailand might not yet be on everyone’s radar as a haute couture hub on par with Paris, London or New York, yet an ever-increasing number of Thai fashion labels are managing to break the mould and proving that the country has more to offer than OEM.
One such success story is Wonder Anatomie, a vibrant street wear brand characterised by splashy prints interspersed with elements of animal anatomy. The label, masterminded by Chalermkiat Khatikasemlert (nickname Pop), just presented its latest collection at the Bangkok International Fashion Week (BIFW2014), held this year from November 6 to 9 at the Siam Paragon. Pop was recently invited to showcase a collection at Seoul Fashion Week 2014 and the brand has also become a favourite for South Korean girl band, 4Minute, who all wear Wonder Anatomie on the cover of their latest mini album. In addition, he also joined MQ Vienna Fashion Week and Designer Resident, which was organised in Austria.
Issue 15
From tin mines and spice ships to beach paradise, the Pearl of the Andaman Sea has undergone many a make-over through the ages, but with the advent of mass tourism, experts are asking the question whither now?
Thailand has a burgeoning reputation for producing high quality international brands. But what of branding Thailand itself? A recent symposium held by the Greater Phuket Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) at the Angsana Laguna Phuket asked this question of the island that hosted it. Clearly the question struck a chord, as it attracted some 200 or so hoteliers, property developers, tour agents and other business people reliant upon the tourism industry.
Phuket has enjoyed – and some might say suffered – from a tourism boom. According to official figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) almost 12 million people visited the island in 2013, albeit arrivals and departures are recorded separately hence doubling the real figures, and some of those were transiting to the nearby havens of Krabi and Koh Pha Ngan. Still, six million visitors have placed a strain on an airport that currently has a capacity of 6.5 million.
The government’s response has been to expand the airport to 12.5 million, with a further extension planned to increase capacity still further to some 18 million, although it will be 15 months before visitors realise the benefits. There are also plans to expand the capacity of the airports at Krabi and Pha Ngan.
Issue 13th: 29 Sept 2014
Fashion may change but style is forever; one Thai designer decides to show the world the eternity of Thai style, albeit in an innovative and unique way.
Global interconnectivity means that your client could be anyone from anywhere with any taste. As designers imitate fashion and styles from major cities, such as New York, Paris and London, it raises the question whether other styles have a place in this increasingly globalised world.
“Someone once told me that nobody wants to buy Thai-styled products and Thai-ness; they're an outdated concept,” says Sarran Youkongdee. “He also told me that [Thai designers] should work on European and Scandinavian styles. I'm determined to prove that Thai-style products are demanded, and I will not simplify or change any detail.”
Issue 14: 31 October 2014
With the advent of the AEC, many Thai companies are turning their eye to their eastern neighbour. A recent fair in Phnom Penh opened many business opportunities for the Kingdom’s exporters.
Commercial ties between Thailand and Cambodia look set to strengthen as ASEAN integration creeps closer. More than 20 Thai F&B-related businesses descended on Phnom Penh to showcase their wares as part of CamFood ’14, an annual international food and drinks industry show that took place at the Cambodian capital’s Diamond Island between October 8 and 10.
Some of the Thai products on display included spices, fish paste, fruit drinks, automated till systems and noodles. They sat alongside sections promoting international goods from countries such as Singapore, the US and Malaysia.
Issue 12 : 15 Sept 2014
In a seminar hosted by the Department of Trade Negotiation (DTN), Ministry of Commerce, successful Thai businesspeople inform Horizon Thailand of what it takes to make it in ASEAN.
Patcharapol Suttidharm, the managing di-rector of cosmetics and spa manufacturing star iRealThanks to the country’s great infrastructure and wide range of government incentives, Thailand might be a great place to start a business, but expanding to other ASEAN countries is another story. Faced with what might at first appear a daunting task, at least one successful business person suggests you first visit the relevant government department before venturing across the region.
“Consulting the Ministry of Commerce is a recommended way to start a business from scratch,” says Patcharapol Suttidharm, the managing director of cosmetics and spa manufacturing star iReal Plus Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturer. “The departments such as the DITP, the SACICT, and the DTN can give you guidance on how to start a company, who to contact, and links with overseas companies.” The upcoming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in late 2015 will only tighten governmental ties between the ten member states.
Now iReal is one of the fastest-growing businesses in ASEAN, but it wasn’t always that way.
“When I set up my cosmetics company, I went to the ministry [of Commerce] and asked for contacts and guidelines,” adds Suttidharm. “They helped me draft out business plans with guidelines I could follow step-by-step and also helped me find out the latest market trends at that time.” He believes that knowing current regional tendencies is key to targeting your business focus.
Wimon Punkong, the director of the Research Division for the International Institute for Trade and Development, believes that changing lifestyles and increasing incomes have contributed to greater consumption of cosmetics products in the Mekong Region.
MAMA Noodles provides another example of the importance of knowing local market conditions when expanding across ASEAN.
“Thirty years ago, we set up a Mama factory in Vietnam. In the end, we had to close the factory and retreat to Thailand,” says Pojjana Paniangviat the managing director of President Interfood that makes the popular instant food. “Back then, Vietnamese people did not trust anything made at home so selling Vietnam-made products was a wrong decision. Later, when tried going to Malaysia, we rebranded MAMA into Ruski as we were aware of sensitive issues like religion. Mama was already well-known for its flagship pork flavour.”
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