With every purchase of a special pack, customers will receive a limited edition wristband, and a chance to donate Bt10 to the Thai Red Cross Society. M&M’S Red Cross Wristband Charity Packs are available at all branches of Tops, Big C and Tesco Lotus (except Big C mini, Tesco Lotus Express and Tops Daily), and other leading stores until December 31.

“This is our first partnership with the Thai Red Cross. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to join hands with the organisation as it allows us show that M&M’S not only stands for fun times but that we care to go beyond the surface of any fun moment and create greater meaningful impacts to the society,” said Yee Pek Kuan, category director of Mars Chocolate South East Asia.

Supporting the release of M&M’S Red Cross Wristband Charity Pack, young actress Tonliu Morakot, added: “We always wish our loved ones greater health and well-being. Now we can also send our wishes to others who are in need through a simple purchase of M&M’S Red Cross Wristband Charity Pack. Especially in this giving season, what can possibly be a greater gift than this?”

The relaxing 90-minute treatment includes an invigorating Body Scrub and the Indigenous Realignment Massage using slow, intense pressure to release tension in tight, stressed and aching muscles.

The package costs Bt4,500-plus (Bt8,800-plus per couple) and comes with a festive gift from bodycare specialist Thann to enjoy at home.

Renowned as one of the finest day spas in Bangkok, the Grande is a sanctuary where purity, stillness and silence create a refuge for body and mind.

Professional therapists, gracious Thai hospitality and a calming environment ensure an unforgettable spa experience.

The Grande Spa is open daily from 9am to 11pm, with the last treatment booked by 10pm.

SPG members can enjoy 20percent discounts on alacarte treatments (excluding express treatments) weekdays between 9am and 3pm. To become a member, just contact the front office.

For more information or reservations, call (02) 649 8121, email spa.grande@luxurycollection.com, or visit http://www.SheratonGrandeSukhumvit.com.

Designed for “modern and premium lifestyles”, the gadgets are divided based on design and function into two categories – “For Him” and “For Her”.

Nitro 5 is a notebook together with the latest gaming desktop Predator Orion 9000, while Swift 3 is a lightweight laptop for work.

Acer Holo 360 offers 360-degree video and content so users will be able to watch footage back through the Acer Window Mixed Reality Headset, compatible with both smartphones and the gaming laptop Triton 700.

From the Pawbo Family series, pet-themed devices include iPuppy Go, Pawbo WagTag and Pawbo Munch.

Nitipat Praweenwongwuthi, marketing director at Acer Computer, said his firm was offering New Year gifts under the “Just For You” campaign for the second year now.

Buoyed by the growing entertainment and e-sport industries, the IT industry has developed various types of gaming products in the forms of notebooks, desktops, monitors and gaming gears.

All these gaming devices are designed for e-sport players and also gamecasters, streamers and professionals in related fields. Although gaming-device sales have not increased during the past three years, their sales value account for 20 per cent of the total sales.

Acer is committed to developing IoT technologies for niche markets too, as consumers increasingly embrace technologies and become more ready to try new things for their lifestyle, the firm said.

IT products in the “Just For You” campaign will be available from now to January 14, while purchases before December 3 will be entitled to tax deductions of up to Bt15,000.

HIS MAJESTY the late King Bhumibol, who famously championed the use of vetiver grass because its roots bind the soil and prevent erosion, thus also helping to conserve water, would no doubt be delighted with the winners of a design competition held as part of the PatPat Project.

All of the imaginative entries – from bags and hats to home d้cor and even jewellery – were made of vetiver grass.

The Chaipattana Foundation project’s “100 Designs 2017: Vetiver Design Contest” – staged in cooperation with Siam Discovery, PTT and Siam Commercial Bank, sought to promote environmental conservation and, in doing so, give upcountry communities an additional source of income.

The entrants spent two months learning from artisans and other experts how to craft useful and attractive items from the tough weed that Thailand has brought to the world’s attention.

Then they set to work, and the results – presented this week at Siam Discovery – are often astonishing.

In the Home Decoration category, for example, freelance product designer Rattapon Anuchitanukul, 29, took top honours with his “Cat Portable” and “Cat Bed”. They’re intended for urban folks with pet felines.

“The bed is very simple but modern, as well as environmental friendly,” he said. “The weaving isn’t complicated, and the colours look natural in the different shades of each leaf. These are easy to clean and can be taken wherever you go with your cat. They could be made for dogs too by adjusting the size.”

Three Rajabhat Suansunandha University students won in the Fashion category for a line of vetiver handbags called “Domicile”. Sethphokin Sethsattaphokin, Napassorn Laomeepol and Rungnapa Pusadeethongchai are in Year 4 of their studies in industrial design.

Sethphokin said they worked closely with artisans in creating the prototypes.

“The shapes resemble those of a farmer’s hat, an oxcart and a buffalo, all of which share the characteristics of strength and durability, which are also the natural qualities of vetiver.”

“Royal initiative projects on soil and water conservation have contributed to cooperation between the public and private sectors to promote vetiver cultivation to help prevent soil erosion, absorb water and increase nutrients in the soil,” noted Bhakamol Rattaseri, secretary general of the Chaipattana Foundation.

“Thanks to its roots that penetrate so deeply into the earth, vetiver can present erosion. By applying local wisdom, handicrafts can also be made out of vetiver leaves. These will become products sold under the PatPat label, and will inspire communities to make their own to generate extra income.”

PatPat vetiver-based products have been on sale since 2009, but early examples tended to be uninteresting. The makers hadn’t yet developed proficiency.

“Nevertheless,” said Bhakamol, “we saw there was great potential in developing vetiver-based handicrafts further. Every community has its own special wisdom and unique characteristics. So we set up a training programme with the Faculty of Architecture at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. Its students helped local people design more modern products that were better suited to market demand.

“The students meanwhile learned how to weave various patterns and to use the knowledge they gained to develop and design fine products.”

Siam Discovery also played a role in the products’ development, specifically encouraging the design of home decoration and fashion items.

“We believe that working with new design talents makes the products more modern and attractive, more remarkable and more popular with shoppers,” Bhakamol said. “At the same, it helps make people more aware of environmental issues.”

Jarupatcha Achavasmit, a lecturer in industrial design at King Mongkut’s Institute, said she was proud of her students who participated in the design contest.

“Vetiver has very special quality,” she pointed out. “It’s easy to grow, requiring only a small amount of water – and no fertiliser or insecticides. Yet it’s very useful because the long roots help prevent erosion. Every three months, the grass produces new buds.

“The leaves have traditionally been used to feed livestock and thatch roofs, but now we see ways to increase its economic value through design and innovation. One of the advantages is that vetiver grows in the soil, not water, so the fibre is dry and less susceptible to fungus than many other natural materials.

“For now there’s not enough vetiver grown to support mass production, but that’s another key point – we want to encourage more people to grow vetiver grass to conserve the soil and water. And earning money by selling the products is a plus.”

Judging in the Vetiver Design Contest was based on creativity, beauty, novelty, work quality and the potential to be reproduced for the market, meaning the items had to be both functional and cheap to make. Any other materials used had to also be ecologically sound and further development had to appear sustainable.

The contest drew 217 entrants – 123 in the Home Decor category and 94 in Fashion. The winners received Bt80,000, a trophy and a chance to develop their product for eventual sale at the PatPat Shop and Siam Discovery.

GO HAVE A LOOK

– You can see the prize-winning entries through December 3 in Living Room 2 on the fourth floor of Siam Discovery.