Reality TV comes in many shapes and sizes with contestants queuing up to show their talents, real or imagined, in such areas as music, dance, modelling and even fashion design.

Vatanika “Prae” Patamasingh na Ayudhya, owner and designer of the Vatanika label, is taking a slightly different tack with her newly launched YouTube channel, which offers a fascinating insight into her lifestyle.

“This is Me Vatanika” offers fun fashion and beauty tips, personal visits with her and her friends and the occasional celebrity. The sexy fashion icon has hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook and Instagram, but the YouTube channel is a new addition, having only debuted a few weeks ago.

A new episode will be uploaded every Friday at 6.49pm, and the series is set to run for 10 episodes.

She guarantees that every episode is packed with fun stories, from the behind-the-scenes lives of designers to interesting angles on life; the process of fashion design and its funny sides, along with romance, celebrities and more.

She recently took time out from her busy schedule for a chat with The Nation.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO CREATE |A REALITY SHOW?

The idea first came up when I was talking to my sister and as we chatted, I realised it would just be so much fun. Then I told my company about it. These days we tend to learn about new fashion and trends through social media so we felt if would be nice to do something different from an advertising campaign. We wanted to make it real after hearing comments from customers like “I wouldn’t dare buy your clothes they look as though they have been made for models. They are just too perfect. So we came up with this idea to wear our designs and present Vatanika outfits on real people rather than models.

WHO IS VATANIKA?

To me, Vatanika is a normal girl who works hard and tries to blend in with this crazy world.

IS THE REAL YOU SEXIER THAN YOUR APPEARANCE?

Vatanika: No. I’m a fat kid at heart. I’m not a sexy girl at all. Somehow the brand and my designs lead me to that “sexiness” that people put on me but I’m not.

HOW LONG DID YOU LIVE IN UK? AND HOW HAS IT INFLUENCED YOUR LIFESTYLE?

I lived there for eight years and I’ve freaked out a little when I came back here! My mother sent me away when I was 18. I lived alone and when you study abroad, you are pretty much on your own. It took quite a while to adjust to living in Bangkok and blend in. I still miss that privacy; the safe zone of mine. But you can’t really have that when you do are doing this job.

A scene from “This is Me Vatanika” showing the designer in disguise as she checks for fake copies of her outfits on the market.

IS CONNECTING BETTER WITH YOUR FANS WHY YOU WANTED TO DO A REALITY SHOW?

It’s certainly one of the reasons. Portraying our clothes on real girls is obviously the main goal. We want to make people believe that you can wear anything and you can feel confident and beautiful. You don’t have to have long legs. You don’t need to have a perfect body. But you can be confident and love who you really are.

HOW INVOLVED ARE YOU IN THE PRODUCTION ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT?

I’m pretty much involved with everything. Most of the reality show is semi-scripted. So all the content is about fashion. It’s not about me. I hope to inspire girls who want to become designers or just want more self-confidence. So that what I’m trying to portray in the show.

HOW DOES THE SHOW AFFECT YOUR BRAND? 

It’s turning out very well. We brainstormed on the ways we could turn the fashion house into a reality show. It’s another way of promoting the brand instead of showing myself.

As a brand we’ve never compared ourselves to anybody. That’s the core to success. We just try to improve and be better. I love reality TV and I’ve taken some of the techniques they use in terms of showing how some angles do more justice to the clothes than others. But my show is different: it is neither a look book, nor a fashion show nor an ad campaign. It’s my first time doing such a show so it’s quite difficult to get my messages across.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT “SA JA …”, WHICH IS HOW YOU CALL YOUR MAID, BECOMING MORE CATCHY THAN VATANIKA?

I was very surprised. I had an idea that the house and the stuff in it would draw attention. I certainly didn’t expect “Saja” to become a main topic. It’s the way my parents taught me to call someone close to you, like your nanny, your driver. You have to be genuine and gentle towards then, When I met Sa, I felt really good with her. She has all the attributes I love, so I asked her to work with me. She has been with me almost five years. Now everyone is saying she’s the star, not me at all. She’s quite happy though. (laughs)

WHAT IS THE MOST FREQUENT QUESTION YOU’VE BEEN ASKED?

Most of my customers ask me for some tips to wear my clothes, such as which bra to wear with a certain dress or what best suits their body type. I enjoy it, I like to please my customers.

IN THE SHOW, WE HAVE SEEN SOME FUNNY SIDES OF YOU. WHAT IS IT WITH THE EYEBROWS?

I don’t have the eyebrows! I plucked them too much when I was young. So I always draw my eyebrows every time, even when I go to bed, have a shower or go to swim. For the show, my sister and my team kind of forced me to leave them off.

CAN YOU REVEAL ANYTHING ABOUT THE NEXT EPISODE? WILL YOU HAVE CELEBRITY GUESTS?

We have some plans but can’t promote it because nothing is really fixed. We are not sure because we want it to be real although some people think it is a set up. I’m in the fashion house business, I want my clothes to look perfect. I cannot have just one camera going round. If you film my door, even that has to look good. But sometimes when it looks too good, people don’t think it’s real.

WHAT HAS THE FEEDBACK BEEN LIKE?

Vatanika: I’m not going to lie; everybody wants to get good feedback. But after the first week, I began to love all the comments, even the critical ones. It’s funny. If you don’t take criticism seriously you can learn a lot. You can pick something and improve even more. If you look at it in a positive way, it won’t harm you.

DID YOU DREAM OF BECOMING A DESIGNER?

No. I wanted to be a sculptor but my mother was against it. She wanted me to have a proper career. I took the foundation course to do all types of arts at Central St. Martin and then I graduated in womenswear and product design (leathergoods) from the London College of Fashion. When I first launched the brand, the bag collection was the main product and the ready-to-wear the capsule. The clothes sold out quickly.

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE VATANIKA WOMAN?

Confident, sophisticated and independent, that would be my lady. When she feel beautiful and confident and smiles from the inside, then I have achieved my goal. I think that is every designer’s goal.

IN ONE OF THE EPISODES, WE SAW YOU GOING ROUND THE MARKETS TO SEE SOME OUTFITS THAT HAD BEEN COPIED FROM YOUR DESIGNS. WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF THE BRAND THAT SIMPLY CANNOT BE COPIED? 

I think it is the quality of material we use, the pattern, the cutting, the design. I mean you can dress in fake Vatanika dresses but you won’t feel the same, that I can guarantee you.

At work with the tailoring team

WHAT IS THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE BRAND?

We are now focusing on the online store because that’s the future. We will also collaborate with a watch brand.

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE AUTUMN AND WINTER 2018 COLLECTION. 

We haven’t done prints in years. This collection will have a signature print and we will focus on a feminist angle to create something that empowers women. We’ll have suits, trouser suits, dresses – a killer dress that makes you feel you are the most gorgeous girl in the world. At Vatanika, we like to mix masculine with feminine such as for the striped print for which I was inspired by the suit my grandfather wore when he was young. I try to match it with a very feminine look like French lace and it’s turned out quite amazing.

WHAT’S IN STORE

•  The Vatanika autumn and winter 2018 collection will be shown at Elle Fashion Week this Saturday at 7pm at CentralWorld.
•  The live broadcast can be watched online through the Elle Magazine website.

Get the head-to-toe look of American rapper and songwriter Wiz Khalifa at CPS Chaps this season as the brand proudly presents its latest collaboration “Wiz Khalifa x CPS”.

Billed as a perfect match between attitude and style, the collection was recently launched on a cool runway at CentralWorld to the sounds of a live hip-hop concert.

The inspiration of this collection comes from Wiz Khalifa, aka Cameron Jibril Thomaz, with the outfits reflecting his identity, character and lifestyle. His uniqueness is known as “Grunge” and he presents his raw personality in a modern fashion interpretation. Khalifa also opts for his favourite colour combo of orange and black as the main colours for the collection.

As one of hip-hop’s most fashionable influencers, he is renowned for wearing an endless parade of funky patterned tees, skinny jeans, shirts with outstanding printed graphics, strange shaped glasses and eye-catching sneakers.

His attitude towards fashion is that clothes are part of your expression and that you can have a different look everyday, depending on your mood.

Making sure you will have an unmistakable look, the “Wiz Khalifa x CPS” collection includes t-shirts, shirts, both plain and printed, jackets, blazers and bombers that pair well with skinny trousers in denim and in black and white. Accessories consist of chunky sneakers, caps and waist-bags in orange and black. The highlighted items include graphic prints and patches on shirts and jackets and CPS CHAPS adds zest by applying its signature jeans bleaching technique to this latest skinny jeans collection. The collection is decorated with a pick logo, which doubles as its symbol.

Lifestyle goods include caps and waist bags, must-have items for this season. And you don’t have to be male to wear the threads as some pieces are unisex. Women can mix and match the denim and leather jacket, caps, waist-bag and chunky sneakers.

The Chunky Sneakers have been selling quickly since the launch and bring back happy memories of the sneaker model so popular during the 70s-80s that were inspired by the popular “Punk” boots model. The 2018 version has a pattern inspired by heat waves and hip-hop beats, an extra thick sole and different colours on top, and boast suede, leather and mesh.

All items from Wiz Khalifa x CPS are limited-edition so buy now while stocks last.

This new movement combines a 10-day power reserve, Oris’s patented non-linear power reserve indicator, a date indication and, for the first time, a 24-hour second time zone with half-hour indication.

Oris began its history in 1904 and made its first pilot’s pocket watch in the early 1910s. In 1917, the brand launched its first collection of pilot’s wristwatches with an ingenious mechanism that could only be adjusted when a button was pressed at 2 o’clock.

Inspired by jet engine blades, this new model showcases Oris’ groundbreaking innovations and features a robust stainless steel case and a bold, clearly legible dial and comes with a variety of dials, case finishing, straps and bracelets to suit tastes and occasion.

Its 24-hour time zone, indicated by a central pointer hour hand, offers local time adjustment to the nearest half hour, useful if you’re travelling to or from countries such as India or Australia. Calibre 114 is the fifth in-house developed movement and was introduced in 2014. It shares the same base architecture as Calibres 110 through 113.

The 10-day power reserve is delivered by a single oversized barrel while the inventive non-linear power reserve indicator (which shows the time remaining until the hand-wound movement needs rewinding with ever greater accuracy as the days pass), is managed by a bespoke worm gear designed exclusively for Oris’s movement suite.

Find out more at http://www.TrocaderoTime.com.

INSPIRED by the luminous beauty of the “super-blood blue moon”, Poem clothing label creative director Chavanon Caisiri recently presented an autumn and winter collection celebrating the brand’s 12th anniversary.

The runway at Gaysorn Village was a spectacular tribute to the mysterious charm and beauty of women with its elaborate dresses and evening gowns of contrasting shadow and radiant light.

“Tale of the Luminaries” came to a truly remarkable close with the appearance of superstar Urassaya “Yaya” Sperbund, wearing a wonderful outfit.

The curvy, feminine shapes were typical of Poem, and here they lent themselves to visions of the moon in tiny corsets, deep-neckline dresses, trousers and circular skirts designed for maximum grace and comfort in movement.

“I did this collection in January, when people of my generation for the first time witnessed one of the greatest celestial phenomena – the superblood blue moon,” Chavanon explained.

“I wanted to interpret the wonderful, subtle and mysterious beauty of the moon and of astrology, in which I’ve always been interested. The power of nature is revealed in many dimensions, such as the lunar eclipse, which can be compared to feminine emotions. Every woman has her own individual mystic charm in their way.”

Chavanon said advanced technology aided in the application of a new technique – 3D digital sublimation – in printing the “ombre” shades of moonlight in the perfect combination. “Such techniques require precision to control the amount of pigment absorbed by the material.”

The print of the season was generated in white and black tones as a houndstooth pattern. Other hues featured included super-black, navy blue and midnight blue to evoke water and pink, red and maroon for fire.

There was also Poem’s refined tailoring, ensuring timeless classic-yet-modern looks in a velvet sheath dress and a deep-neckline long-sleeved top for daily wear.

A mesh body suit was matched with a soft mesh tulle skirt for comfort and a shower robe of wool fabric looked lightweight and warm – and also enhanced the curves.

“My mother, who set up the brand in 2006, used to be a tailor and her main expertise was in boutique-style French garments,” Chavanon said.

“She would measure the body in centimetres for the perfect cut so that the clothing would emphasise the customer’s beautiful shape. This was the look of the 1950s, the period I like most. Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn were fashion icons.”

Chavanon, who studied architecture, has nonetheless modernised the designs with multiple perspectives in the patterns, structure and lines based on female curves.

He was thrilled to have Yaya in the show.

“The beauty of Yaya is surreal – she’s like a hologram, but she’s real! I think she represents the women of Poem perfectly – beautiful and smart.

“Her fabulous gown weighs 15 kilograms, with lots and lots of mesh cloth layered for a circular silhouette.”

Other celebrities participating included Sikanya Sakdidej Bhanubhandh, Onchuma Durong- dech, Napaporn Bodiratnangkura, Kornkanok Yongsakul, Yuwared Sarutanond, Parva Nakasai, |Piraya Singha and Kerika Chotivichit.

Anne Thongprasom, Suquan Bulakul, Kannarun Wongkajonk- lai, Janie Tienphosuwan, |Non Allapach Na Pombhejara, Puttichai Kasetsin, Marie Broenner, Suchar Manaying, Amena Gul, Khemup- sorn Sirisukha, Diana Flipo, Sonya Singha and Supassara Thanachat were also involved.

TRAVEL accessories brand Tumi recently unveiled its Voyageur collection for autumn and winter, featuring streamlined, lightweight designs with sophisticated and feminine details.

Versatile enough for daily commutes, short getaways and weekend excursions, Voyageur takes on bold prints and a variety of colours including Maroon, Photo Floral, Black, Mink, and Navy, plus a subtle camouflage print in both grey and green.

New embellishments include chains and studding. One line is in luxurious leather, in black and now in seasonal brick red.

Brand manager Mesajee Sirirungruang rolled the great new gear out at a show at Warehouse 30 in Bangkok.

“The Voyageur collection was inspired by the nature and traditions of Scandinavia,” she said. “We’ve focused on techniques such as handcrafting to explore colours, textures and tones.

“The mesmerising results include new takes on camouflage, classic floral motifs being modernised with shifting contrasts, reflective pops and subtle texture plays that add new dimension to Tumi fabrics and styles.”

Celebrities enjoying the show included Onchuma Durongdej, Chulalux Piyasombatkul, Porn- pawee Neerasingh, Ingfah Dam- rongchaitham, Pimpisa Chirathi- vat, Saeranee Charnvirakul, Jukkaphan Wongkanit, Pimthong Washirakom, Ployvarin Songpa- korn, Thanakrit Saengvanich and Praepun Tumwattana.

The premium leather Georgica line debuts as a modern necessity for sophisticated businesswomen, while the Mezzanine line features style-driven shapes with a cool yet carefree downtown attitude.

And the Mariella line returns with the finest leathers crafted by hand and sublime detailing.

Georgica offers a modern take on women’s business bags with soft, pebbled leather, subtly refined unlined interiors and minimal hardware.

Inside is a detachable mini-bag that works as a clutch or wristlet for transits from workplace to evening activities.

Mezzanine features unstructured silhouettes in soft, pebbled black leather, speed-clips, wide webbing details and ripcord functionality.

Sleek and sophisticated Mariella also boasts sublime |detailing in an elegant array |of feminine shapes and innovative details such as the signature lock closure.

The Tumi Men’s collection returns with outstanding on-the-go essentials for business and casual occasions. The Alpha Bravo, made from highly durable FXT Ballistic Nylon and genuine leather, comes in new and exciting seasonal prints such as Charcoal Restoration, Arctic Restoration and Reflective Tundra.

Tahoe has been revamped with an urban, minimalist aesthetic and features hidden functionality and linings with reflective accents, while some pieces feature rain |covers.

The timeless yet modern Harrison retains its clean, streamlined look and continues to offer highly functional day bags and accessories with new styles and dynamic seasonal colours like Iron and Charcoal Restoration.

 “Our daily lives are impacted by a high density of information and visual pollution,” says Nathalie Colin, the brand’s creative director. “It’s a fast-moving and at times overwhelming environment, requiring constant agility.

“The world of magic, enchantment and fairytales offers an escape from everyday life. It’s a place where forest animals have souls and we become modern-day shamans able to understand their language. This captivating world inspired the Crystal Tales collection. I want to offer women a welcoming and sparkling world to retreat to, where they can be inspired by storytelling, re-energised by richly crafted designs, and feel at their most brilliant.”

Swarovski dials up its vision of femininity with of-the-moment silhouettes, layers upon layers of long pendants and charms, bold cocktail rings, delicate designs and ornate earrings.

There are endless ways to sparkle with the coveted Swarovski Remix collection, which allows for even more expressions of personal style with the addition of a new line featuring shimmering Swarovski Remix charms with pave letters and colourful birthstone elements.

As the key source of inspiration, tales from the forest largely infuse this collection. Sparkling treasures and vintage glamour evoke the captivating curiosities and flora and fauna of a mystical forest.

The Magnetic family re-imagines insect motifs in brilliant new ways. On-trend silhouettes, asymmetric earrings, brooches, layered necklaces and signet and cocktails rings shine with Swarovski crystal Pointiage, delicate detailing, and mixed metal tones.

Radiating unique charm, the March family is an endearing addition to every woman’s accessory collection. Lovers of woodland animal motifs, such as the fox, owl, and squirrel, will be won over by the mix of golden metallic tones and crystal, for a look that’s quirky yet sophisticated at the same time.

The season comes to a stunning close with a fairytale inspired Holiday collection. The Swarovski signature sparkle brings a magical mood, from everyday accents – such as the Louison family that takes its inspiration from frosted winter leaves – to dazzling gifts.

“Jewellery is an expression of our individual personality, our style and taste,” says Colin. “It is very personal and can therefore give a strong identity to every single look. At Swarovski we believe in empowering women to express their personalities through our jewellery, to shine brightly and let their sparkle light up the world all day.

“With the Swarovski Remix Collection, every woman can follow her mood of the day, and create the jewel that best illustrates who she is. Sparkle meets the ultimate in versatility through glittering letters, birthstones and symbol charms to offer women a palette of options to create one-of-a-kind statements of style and offer seemingly endless ways to sparkle all day, every day.”

The Christophe Lemaireled design team at the Uniqlo Paris R&D Centre is constantly evolving its advanced ideas for the Uniqlo U designs, patterns, fabric development, and sewing techniques. Since the line’s debut two years ago, its mainstay items have become even more attractive, with its innovations transforming into contemporary essentials. The latest collection features a vivid autumn and winter colour palette and designs with intrend volumes.

The styling for this season emphasises volume through dolman sleeves for women’s fleece blousons and boxy silhouettes for men’s fleece jackets. Women’s items exude comfort and confidence, while men’s pieces convey unpretentious relaxation.

The range includes men’s and women’s Blocktech coats that are water repellent and windproofed. Women’s coats wick away inside moisture and have snapon hoods, with hem slits that enhance comfort when walking or seated. This season sees 3D knits employing advanced Whole-garment technology for beautiful silhouettes that are also comfortable. Women can also look forward to two new dress and three sweater designs, the latter using a special spinning technique for raised looks and soft textures, There are also sweaters with vintagestyle link knitting and items in comfortable ponte fabrics.

Keep updated at http://www.Uniqlo.com/UniqloU

It’s a reality show titled “This is Me Vatanika” and offers fun fashion and beauty tips and personal visits with her and her friends.

The sexy fashion icon has hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook and Instagram, but the YouTube channel only debuted last Friday. A new episode will be uploaded every Friday at 6:49pm.

“I’ve been in the fashion industry for seven years now, as the founder and designer of my brand,” she says. “Today my brand is known locally and internationally and it took a lot of effort to get here. Along the way I’ve gained some invaluable lessons, and I want to share them with others. I will present them in this new reality show, and people can learn more about who I am.

“How people perceive me is usually based on social events and the media, but there’s more to me than that. The show will present who I am in other aspects, so that people can know more about me. Each week you can learn about my life and things you never know about me. The show also offers tips on life, fashion, lifestyle, work and more, in a fun and entertaining way.”

She guarantees that every episode is packed with fun stories, from the behind-the-scenes lives of designers to interesting angles on life to a sneak peek into the world of copycats as she visits local shops peddling counterfeit Vatanika products.

Adidas Originals has American rapper Pharrell Williams touting its Solarhu sneakers and apparel, in which technology meets East African-inspired colours and patterns.

Inspired by the transformational nature of sport, the collection is expressed in confident tones of aqua, scarlet, yellow, collegiate green and collegiate purple.

Adidas Primeknit material is re-imagined to evoke a naive, handmade sensibility – contrasted with the familiar adidas tooling.

In the Pharrell Williams Solarhu NMD shoes, the popular NMD style has evolved with a trail-inspired outsole and ribbed Primeknit fabric, intricately woven in a clash of colours.

Influenced by running bibs, contrasting black-on-white patches are emblazoned on the front of each pair and feature slogans like “Mother” and “Land ” or “Empower” and “Inspire”, or the Swahili words “Miele” (forever) and “Mbele” (forward), all spelled out in alphanumeric text.

The shoe also offers a TPU lace cage in complementary hues and a midsole comprised of Boost, adidas’ revolutionary energy-returning material.

Meanwhile, Tennis Hu sneakers are subtly redesigned with East African inspirations in mind. The striking pattern variations of the Primeknit uppers are designed to conjure a handmade look and feel. They have an EVA midsole, suede overlays at the heels and toebox and “leatherised” eye-stay lace holders.

The Pharrell Williams Solarhu collection will be available from August 18 at adidas Originals Siam Center and Carnival store.

Find out more at http://www.adidas.co.th/originals-pharrell.

The launch, organised by distributor C Thong Panich, was held at the new Escape Bangkok shop in EmQuartier and attended by actress Virithipa “Woonsen” Phakdeeprasong, who spoke about her favourite watch. She was joined by William Bess, the brand’s international sales director, Vipawan Mahadumrongkul, managing director of C Thong Panich, Voralak Tulaphorn, chief marketing officer of The Mall Group, as well as Kerika Chotivichit, Nondh Amranand, ML Rangsithorn Bhanubandh, and Nattakorn Choonhavan.

Frederique Constant’s 3.0 Hybrid Manufacture combines three technological advances, among them the FC-750 Hybrid Manufacture Hybrid calibre, which enables the smart functions. The watch updates the activities of the wearer, including their daily steps, daily calories burnt, and sleeping patterns. The wearer of this hybrid smartwatch can also set goals for their sleeping hours. The analysis function has an algorithm that tests the accuracy of the watch’s calibre, resulting in a graph that is shown on the mobile application.

The smartwatch special model, 3.0 Hybrid Manufacture is available in silver for Bt126,000 and rose gold for Bt138,000. M Card members are entitled to a discount.