Sretsis' metamorphosis

BANGKOK—When it comes to unique, homegrown fashion labels, Thailand has loads to offer. Every time I go shopping in Bangkok, I can easily get my fix through Thai labels and forget about the usual designer brands. Local retail stores here have so many fashion items that are skillfully designed and crafted in quality local materials.

It was during Elle Fashion Week, October 2007, when the brave young label Sretsis first caught my eye. Run by the Sukhahuta sisters — marketing manager Kly, jewellery designer Matina and creative director/head designer Pim — Sretsis is “sister” spelled backwards.

The brand reflects the siblings’ uniqueness and chemistry, resulting in a fundamental sense of style that is all their own.

Sretsis came about after Pim finished at Parsons School of Design in New York, 2002, and decided to invade the Thai fashion scene.

Seven years later, Sretsis can be found at fine stores in the United States, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Dubai, Kuwait, Cyprus, Turkey, Dominican Republic, as well as Harvey Nichols in London and Saudi Arabia, Seibu and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, and Noema in Russia.

Spotted wearing Sretsis are celebrities like Beyonce Knowles, Leighton Meester, Katy Perry, Zooey Deschanel and Whitney Port.

During my recent trip to Bangkok, I interviewed Pim at their latest endeavor, the ultra-chic restaurant, Minibar Royale, which will be featured in my next story.

After a one-year hiatus from Elle Fashion Week, Sretsis made an impressive comeback this year with a collection called “Metamorphosis,” which reveals how clothes can be transformed into another garment.

Classic silhouettes with a vintage feel are highlighted by signature details such as flounces, ruffles, tiers and scallops, made in rich fabrics and colors.

Pim takes off from men’s wear, cuts straight harsh edges and drapes them on statuesque forms of women.

“I just wanted the clothes to be like a toy for girls so they can change or transform it into anything they want. I have this reversible cocktail dress made out of silk lace with jacquard lining and a zipper on the back. You can change the look from fancy to a punk-rockish kind of style,” Pim said.

Her favorite piece, the Matina Disco dress, was named after her younger sister and made of silk organza, puffy sleeves, ruffles and metallic ribbons. During the after party at the Minibar Royale, the three sisters wore the Matina dress in different colors.

Aspecial feature of the collection is a staple print called “Metamorphosis Diamonds,” inspired by the work of famed Dutch graphic artist, Maurits Cornelis Escher.

The print is a tesselated pattern of rough uncut diamonds that morphs into crystal-faceted animal mascots — the horse, panther and lion — into the Sretsis girl logo, then back to diamonds.

It comes in three-color stages: “Some clothes are printed with a black and white sketch, some are just colored on the outline, and then it transforms into a full-on rainbow scheme in some pieces. I also used the print as template for beadworks,” Pim said.

 Different types of silk, satin, organza tweed and jerseys were used, as well as two exclusive textiles specially made for the collection — the “Mascot Doily” lace features a crystal horse, panther and lion with eyelets on delicate silk chiffon and organza, while the Sretsis jacquard lining enables some pieces to become reversible.

The color palette ranges from rich hues of acid pink, electric blue, and lion gold to the softest pastels of lilac and faded rose.

Key pieces include the acid trompe l’oeil jeans, the scallop rib skirt, and two pieces borrowed from men’s wear — the tuxedo tail jacket and the knitted oversized blazer.

Special add-ons such as the Alice ruffle collar, manicured elbow knit gloves, and zipper rib belt complete the look.

For accessories, Matina Amanita for Sretsis interpreted the Metamorphosis theme by creating unique jewelry pieces of opulent bib necklaces, earrings, cuffs and brooches, combining the three mascots (horse, panther, lion) with diamonds, stars, and the Sretsis girl logo. Some are crystal-encrusted while some were left bare, resulting in a raw finish.

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The Sretsis flagship store is at Gaysorn Plaza, 2nd Floor, Ploenchit Road, Patumwan, Bangkok, Thailand. To know more, go to http://www.sretsis.com.