Meet Lifestyle Asia Thailand’s 50 ICONS, where we gather influential people from Thailand’s younger generation and dive into their beliefs, thoughts, and toasts to their spectacular success in their respective careers. This story goes out to our fashion designer duos recognised for their laser-cut motif, Vinn ‘Champ’ Chokkhatiwat and Patararin ‘Fon’ Pongprasit, owners of Vinn Patararin.
Beyond their roles as fashion designers, the creative duo Vinn ‘Champ’ Chokkhatiwat and Patararin ‘Fon’ Pongprasit have embraced a multifaceted identity. Besides their design endeavours, they also serve as fashion educators. By viewing their brand as an intersection of art, business, and social progress, this year Vinn Patararin is ready to transform into a comprehensive community placing culture at its core.
Vinn Patararin on becoming more than just a brand, but also a community
Tell us about the brand’s current situation.
Champ: “Currently, we’re working on a new collection. I’ve been doing a lot of extensive research on how fabrics can help treat certain patients with disabilities. One group we studied were deaf people. Whether the fabric or the method of craftmanship could add any information to their brain. I decided to do this because those who are deaf don’t receive the same amount of information.”
“I work with Rajasuda Institute, a school for the disabled, as there’s a department for designs. I want to teach the students to experience the real world of work. Like what do they have to face and what the industry is really like? And since we’re currently making a new collection, I decided to do some research as well.”
Fon: “Recently, we did a pop-up event in New York. In the U.S., May is known to be Asian American Pacific Asia Islander month, which includes Asian people from Korea, Japan, India, and Thailand. This time we went to New York to do a campaign that brought together various Asian designers to raise awareness. All the funds received from the pop-up were used to push for Asian studies in schools, throughout the U.S., starting from Kindergarten to 12th grade.”
How did you join this pop-up?
Champ: “It all started when we decided to market our brand in New York for a year or two. After that, we got Troye Sivan to wear our pieces as well as Timothée Chalamet, which went viral as it was showcased on Saturday Night Live. As more people knew us, we were invited to go to New York. It’s as if we have a pretty big community there. We always said we wanted to do something for society or to create a community. And being New York, that city is already a melting pot of all races. If you go check it out, you’ll see that our brand is everywhere. I think that New York is the correct answer for us. It’s a suitable city for Vinn Patararin due to the community, city, and culture.”
Fon: “As we want our brand to be more of a community, this year, we continue to build on a collection that we have developed with various researchers. Regarding the development of knitting and weaving to create new techniques, what we’re trying to do is to provide therapy in our pieces. We see a big community in that area. We’re also trying to go more global, but to be honest, what we do is so much more than that. We’re not forcing our consumers to like our products, but if one day they do, everything will work out. I truly believe doing organic design work will lead us to our goal.”
How is being a professor?
Fon: “I’m a full-time professor at SWU. Champ is a special lecturer at Chulalongkorn. But if I’m being honest, you need to start with your mindset. I feel that for the fashion industry to grow, everyone must grow together simultaneously. Therefore, we must prepare our way of thinking. The way teachers think is much different to a design. It’s another level. As a designer, I want to convey my thoughts to people, such as, how I want society to be like. But when it comes to teaching, it’s about taking all your knowledge and experience and passing it down. It’s to give your students all your strongest skills before they enter the real world.”
“Today when it comes to teaching fashion, it’s more than just patterns or design. You also have to become a consultant for your students. For example, will their ideas work or what’s the easiest way to tell their story? However, what I feel is very effective for me as a designer when it comes to teaching is that I get to evaluate what the kids from this era are thinking. It makes me ask myself what can I do as a designer to serve them? Then they can take what I learned to do something different and more innovative.”
Champ: “When it comes to teaching, I always see who my listeners are. Are they entrepreneurs, students or young designers? After, I select the appropriate knowledge according to what they want. If there are any questions, I’m always here to help. As an advisor, it’s crucial to always bring my students back when they get sidetracked. Nowadays, teaching is no longer a one-way communication. There’s no single answer, especially in design. In this field, things are always changing and there are many perspectives. One day everything you knew, could be translated into something completely different.”
What are your thoughts on people counterfeiting your apparel?
Both: “We haven’t encountered that yet. But to us, when someone copies your work, it means you’re on the right track. We just have to be quicker. Plus, who knows, those who purchase fakes, might eventually buy authentic products. And in the end, it’s fashion and it’s business. It’s all about numbers. However, managing a business as a designer compared to running a business as an accountant is very different. For us, it’s about timing. Currently, we’re quite popular in the market, but when should we slow down? It all depends on experience. A business always has ups and downs. We understand that.”
Lastly, is fashion still fun for you?
Fon: “It might not be as fun as before, but at least we’ve gained more knowledge. I’m super excited for the new version of Vinn Patararin because it’s like we’re not just designers anymore. It’s about business management, what we need to do today not just for us, but society as well. We want our brand to be a part of a culture since we’re not only producing to sell. I’m excited for our audience to see more fun and new things from us.”
Champ: “As designers, we have a duty to make things fun, to create something new for the industry. However, we also have to see if the customers are ready to have fun with us. Our challenge is to be aware of this because maybe one day consumers aren’t interested in craftsmanship anymore. Maybe they’ll care more about diversity and so on. We have to adapt and change according to social topics, and I believe that fashion is the easiest platform for this. It is provocative art.”
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Drinking is best during the day, especially when at brunch. If she's not working, catch her at the gym or socializing with friends. An introvert extrovert at heart. She's a Capricorn.
