There is no doubt that
one of the must do's on any trip to Bangkok is to spend the day losing yourself
in the labyrinth that is the massive sprawl of Chatuchak Market.
But unless you love
t-shirts and blogshops, the thousands of stalls in the massive weekend market
could mean frustration rather than fashion heaven.
It takes patience, but
amongst the rows and rows of cheap and cheerful are some genuinely talented
young (and even established) Thai labels which sell really original and high
quality items for you to wow your friends with.
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| Forget the tacky t-shirts and knick-knacks and use your time at the massive weekend market to get your hands on these stingray beauties!! |
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| Also head to Guate for some high quality and affordable leather accessories, where you also get to watch the artisans handcrafting them! |
So what’s the answer?
Well one option is to get your walking shoes on and traipse around for hours
hoping for a little gem. The second option?
Luckily for you, I did
the legwork and found some highlights to help you ensure your trip to this
incredible market isn't just about flip-flops and "amusing" 150 baht
t-shirts.
1- Shellmania (Section 9, Soi 18/1)
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| Love these statement shell bangles, going for less than S$40! |
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| Colourful accessories made of stingray leather are also to-die for! |
As
the name suggests, this place is specialized in seashells, and a more unusual
stingray leather accessories. The shop takes on 2 stalls filled with an array
of candy-coloured rings, earrings, and necklaces and gorgeous statement bangles
made of shells and necklaces. The place does wholesale as well which makes the
prices quite good value. Expect to pay around 190 baht (around S$7) for a stingray ring and
up to 950 baht (around S$40) for a shell cuff.
Everything
on display is so beautiful and you’ll probably going to spend an hour deciding
which colour ring you should settle on. I’d say bring a few as for that price
they make a better souvenir than a fridge magnet!
2- Kinnaree (Section 9, Soi 18)
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| Great quality Thai silk garments in vibrant colours at KINNAREE |
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| They also stock some one-off statement jewellery pieces like this gorgeous turquoise necklace. |
Another
wholesaler, this time specializing in silk and linen clothes, this place was
one of the few which caught my eye as it stood out from the blogshop-style
stalls which are selling more of the same. The dresses here are pretty and easy
to wear and I was impressed by the quality of the silk and understated designs
(which are done inhouse) that would suit a 45-year -old as much as a 20-year-old
woman.
Everything
is quite simple here, focusing on the bright colours, beautiful material and
flattering fit which transcends trends and appear more like classic pieces with
a twist, worth investing in. Prices range from 800 baht (around S$32) for a silk top up to
6000 baht (around S$240) for a gorgeous tiered made-to-order evening gown.
3- Guate (Section 23, Soi 33)
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| One of the artisans at Guate, working away on a leather bracelet |
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| Love this wallet!!! you have to see the stuff in real to appreciate the amazing quality of leather and stitching in every piece at Guate! |
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| Stunning leather bag!!!! Was going for less than S$200! |
From
the smell of genuine leather passing by this stall, I had to stop and check it
out. To my surprise, one of the designers of this label was sitting just
across, working away and hand stitching some gorgeous leather accessories. This
place stood out from the lot for its minimal design, bright colours and
unbelievable quality. All for a great price which wouldn’t even buy you a faux
leather fake LV back home. Everything from the big totes to weekend bags,
clutches and coin purses looked gorgeous – and obviously made with love! If
you’re planning on buying a new bag, this is the place to go. Prices range from
as little as 600 baht (around S$24) for accessories up to 6000 baht (around S$240) for a weekend leather bag.
4- กากี่นั้ง ‘One of Us’ T-shirt shop (Section 8, Soi 17)
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| This is not your average t-shirt shop... some really cool and 'tasteful' designs in there! |
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| A print of a very old Thai coin... can you read it? |
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| Each design here is taken from vintage newspaper ads! Some are really hilarious!!! |
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| Also got to meet Aui, the designer behind the label who was at the stall and explained to me some of the designs and illustrations. |
There
is no way you walk in any street market in Bangkok without seeing dozens
of stalls and shops selling printed t-shirts of all colours and styles! But
while the Khaosan road market is the backpacker choice and is nowadays full of
less than stylish touristy and mass-produced designs, this stall at the weekend
market beats it hands down! The designs here are replicas of old Thai newspaper
ads and range from outrageous, funny, weird and just puzzling… which the owner
Aui produces and designs.
What’s also distinct about
this particular label is the colour and quality of the cotton in t-shirts and
bags which look very vintage-y and complement the illustrations. T-shirts here
come in different cuts as well, American and Asian, so no fear of not fitting.
At a mere 170 baht (around S$7) you can get the design you like printed on either a t-shirt
or a bag and will certainly be something you’ll cherish and wear when you get
back home.
If you have any great labels I've missed then please leave them in the comments section below for others to see and visit!
If you have any great labels I've missed then please leave them in the comments section below for others to see and visit!