In the bag
For eight years, Tipanan Srifuengfung has been building Tu’i into a giant among brands
After graduating from the Instituto Maragoni in Milan, Tipanan Srifuengfung came back to Thailand and noticed a stark generation gap in the style of exotic leather handbags. Everything was outdated, and there were no other options available for the younger generation to buy. With this thought, she set out designing her own bags, now renowned for their bold look and exotic materials. Disappearing from the limelight for a few years to take care of her newborn baby, Tipanan has returned extravagantly, launching her latest autumn/winter 2016 collection, The Nomads, and celebrating her brand’s eighth anniversary with an epic showcase at EmQuartier. In a chat with Muse, Tipanan discussed her inspirations and shared thoughts on her comeback.
There’s a lot of bag brands out there now. How do you differentiate Tu’i bags from others?
Tu’i bags have a very clear character. There’s a mixture [of materials], and we give thought and are very detailed in the selection of the leather. I think that for any woman who wants to have fun in how they dress or find something that’s not like anyone else, Tu’i is an option. We have gimmicks in the bag, and we have different types of leathers and textures. Normally in our bags, if you notice, they each have two to three materials. It gives the bags dimension and fun.
Would you describe Tu’i fans as maximal?
It depends. If you’re maximal then it might go your way completely [laughs]. Even if you dress simply, you will still stand out if you use our bags, because they’re very detailed. There are feathers, fur and exotic leather, and we also have crystals decorating the bags called snowflake crystals, so the bags look like there’s snow on them.
Could you tell us about your latest collection, The Nomads?
Every year, the majority of inspiration comes from travel. I’m a person who loves travelling, loves finding new and strange things. The Nomads collection is like taking people to witness new and exciting places where Tu’i tribal girls live. The tribes are in the mountains, tundra, forest, snow, desert. The colours in this collection are inspired by the different locations of the tribes. There’s forest green, white snow, grey tundra, Mongolian pink, and beige or sand for the desert. Furthermore, the collection has a wintry vibe due to the feathers and fur.
You’ve been at this for eight years. Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a wall?
There were times, especially when I’d just given birth, because I couldn’t adjust myself. I had to take care of the baby, I had to work, and so I couldn’t get enough rest. Before this, I had no team to support me. I was running the show solo for the longest time. Everything, every bag, was designed by me. This latest collection was the first time I had help.
You said your inspiration comes from travelling, and that having a baby changed your travelling habits. Is that reflected in your work in any way?
Not exactly. I’m a person who likes to read. I waste a lot of money on books. Sometimes I haven’t even been to the place, but I want to go, so I’ll do intense research on the country, and I’ll turn that into a collection. Like with the previous collection, inspired by Lisbon. I had never been there, and I became very interested because of their beautiful tiles and painted patterns. The collection launched two years ago, and six months after I was able to finally go. So it felt really good. The collections mainly come out of my imagination, but are based on real places.
How has the Thai fashion scene changed in these past eight years?
There are a lot of new brands from younger kids these days. When I first started, I saw a gap in the market, so I wanted to create something new. But now there’s so much of it, especially in the last three years, bag designers have been popping up like mushrooms. Some pop up and disappear. Recently I also saw copies [of my bags]. Everywhere I went I saw fakes of my bags — from Hong Kong to Korea!
Do you get frustrated when this happens?
Friends would take pictures and get mad on my behalf, but me, I’m neutral about it. I know the quality isn’t the same. I know the material source and sewing techniques aren’t right. What I can do is work harder. What I have is my creativity. They can follow me but they can never catch up with me.