Thailand, Bangkok Fashion City
13/11/04 Filed in: Travel
It's fashion week here in Bangkok and I was lucky
enough to receive an invitation to attend the ELLE
Sretsis fashion show. The weeklong event is being
held in a specially erected tented pavilion, just a
few minutes walk from where I'm staying. If you want
to understand how serious the Thai women take their
fashion one has only to look toward the thousands of
well-dressed people waiting outside the big tent.
Fortunately, I found the Thai friend who had arranged
the invitation but, as she handed me my ticket she
asked, "did you bring your camera?". Yes, I told her.
Well, she says, "no pictures are allowed during the
show!" Quickly her eyes brighten again and I'm
following her to the press booth. In no time she has
arranged a Press Pass for me and I'm being escorted
inside, past the big crowd to a roped off area, just
at the head of the runway.
From the look of the long white catwalk and all the lights and video cameras, it is obvious that this is a professional show. Soon after I found my place I was joined by dozens of other photographers and video crews each maneuvering for the best shooting spot. Being tall, I felt sure that almost any spot here should have a great vantage point. But these Thai photographers knew a thing of two about being on the short end of the shooting scale. They all brought little ladder-stools to stand on and two set up right in front of me, almost totally blocking my view. Undeterred, I also made use of their little ladders and borrowed a step from each of their stools to regain the height advantage.
Soon the crowd was pouring in and the hall filled to maximum. The lights went down and video presentations projected a history of fashion in Thailand. As the video faded, spotlights switched on and light colorful techno music announced the start of the runway production. This is the Faerie Collection by Sretsis (sisters spelled backwards). One after another beautiful model prances down the runway, feet strutting in time with the beat. The clothes, a woman's dream come true, bestow a sweet, almost magical innocence, like a Cinderella fairy tale come to life. Some of the models, I'm told later, were quite famous Thai models, others obviously from Europe or America. The crowd clapped and cheered for their favorite design, we photographers clicked away (and I tried not to fall off my little perch).
Almost before you knew it, it was over (maybe 15-20 min). Everyone enjoyed the show...just another flavor of beautiful and sophisticated life in Thailand.
Suai (beautiful)
Please check out all the photos on my SE Asia Portfolio page available at NavaSwan.com
From the look of the long white catwalk and all the lights and video cameras, it is obvious that this is a professional show. Soon after I found my place I was joined by dozens of other photographers and video crews each maneuvering for the best shooting spot. Being tall, I felt sure that almost any spot here should have a great vantage point. But these Thai photographers knew a thing of two about being on the short end of the shooting scale. They all brought little ladder-stools to stand on and two set up right in front of me, almost totally blocking my view. Undeterred, I also made use of their little ladders and borrowed a step from each of their stools to regain the height advantage.
Soon the crowd was pouring in and the hall filled to maximum. The lights went down and video presentations projected a history of fashion in Thailand. As the video faded, spotlights switched on and light colorful techno music announced the start of the runway production. This is the Faerie Collection by Sretsis (sisters spelled backwards). One after another beautiful model prances down the runway, feet strutting in time with the beat. The clothes, a woman's dream come true, bestow a sweet, almost magical innocence, like a Cinderella fairy tale come to life. Some of the models, I'm told later, were quite famous Thai models, others obviously from Europe or America. The crowd clapped and cheered for their favorite design, we photographers clicked away (and I tried not to fall off my little perch).
Almost before you knew it, it was over (maybe 15-20 min). Everyone enjoyed the show...just another flavor of beautiful and sophisticated life in Thailand.
Suai (beautiful)
Please check out all the photos on my SE Asia Portfolio page available at NavaSwan.com