The star-studded event had guests dressed in “Black tie with a touch of Thai.”
Vogue Thailand held its annual gala last night, accompanied by an auction to raise money for its local Fashion Fund. The renowned competition started in the United States in 2003 to help grow and support the next generation of designers. Its previous winners include some of the biggest names in New York fashion today, including Altuzarra, Rodarte, Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim, and Telfar, among others. Over the years, the competition’s format has evolved in consideration of current issues and climates, and has been localized by Vogue editions to help mentor new designers.
The Thai edition of the magazine adopted the Fashion Fund several years ago to help support their own talents and the local fabric industry and on September 21, Vogue Thailand launched a gala for a dedicated Fashion Fund auction.
Celebrating craft
At the 2022 Vogue Thailand Gala, guests were requested to wear black-tie with “a touch of Thai” at the Four Seasons Hotel. Year after year, guests go out of their way to wear local fabrics.
Thailand’s textile industry is revered, particularly when it comes to silk, with the fabric’s production dating back over a millennium ago. But industry fell into decline over recent centuries, with Time Magazine reporting its near extinction due to cheaper mechanized alternatives.
American businessman Jim Thompson arrived in Thailand in the mid-1940s and is credited for almost singlehandedly saving the silk industry. Since then, much government support has been given to the craft. Queen Sirikit, for example, established the SUPPORT Foundation to fund and preserve Thai craftsmanship.
Under the hammer
Other attendees included Thai actors like Kimberley Anne Woltemas (The Unidentical Twins), Phakphum Romsaithong (KinnPorsche), Diana Flipo (Buang Hong), Janie Tienphosuwan (Plerng Boon), Thanapob Leeratanakachorn (May Who?), and Sky Wongravee (My Ambulance). Members of the Bulgari international team also graced the event, wearing Thai fabrics.
After being greeted at the event with cocktails and a speech by Vogue Thailand editor-In-chief, Kullawit Laosuksri, guests settled in for dinner. The fundraising auction began soon afterward, featuring items like a limited-edition Pucci bag, an MCM Home Set, and Sirivannavari bags. The event managed to raise over 1.3M baht for the Fashion Fund—signaling an exciting new chapter for Thailand’s young designers.
See what went on at the glamorous occasion: