P O R T F O L I O WACHIRATHIDA KONGCHAN
DESIGNER PROFILE Wachirathida Kongchan, or known as Joy, a new generation designer from Thailand. Regarding her educational background, she graduated from the faculty of Education majoring General Science, Counseling Psychology and Guidance, Chulalongkorn University, in Thailand. After graduation, she decided to follow her heart, moving to London, and started to study in fashion at West London College (Heriot-Watt University), which has provided her with a foundation of creativity. Almost 4 years of working in fashion, the experience she has gained through her life makes her work unique. A combination of everything, and her Asian culture influence her to set up own identity name “Muse”. “Every collection I design, every garment I made. Each one has its own story. My work is creating an art piece. Art does not have a trend, and I do not follow a trend, I am a creator, and I create my own trend. People who see my work, no one will refuse wearing it. This is Muse; Timeless, Ageless, and Beautiful.” “I set myself from the beginning, if I have chance to create or produce something, I want to make it meaningful. Make people think about my work, and question themselves after see or read my statement. The work that I can share my experience, represents who I am, and telling a story by saying nothing or writing any words. The message I left, the meaning of work on its own.”
LOST AND FOUND WACHIRATHIDA KONGCHAN
愛してる っていうあなたの言葉は さよなら よりも哀しい これ以上 何も言わなくていい だから この夜を止めてよ 呼吸(いき)するみたいに ふたりは出会ったね 疑いもせずに 傷つけ 傷つき 痛みこそ愛だと 信じてきた日々 声をひそめながら ふたりだけの秘密を ひとつずつ増やすたび つくり笑い 心で泣いてる おなじ色の夢みていたいのに ちがう道に離れてく 出会いのときを選べないのなら せめて この夜を止めてよ 大きな背中を
見つめていられたら それでよかったのに どんなに激しく あなたを愛しても 答えはみえない 終わりにしたいのなら 5 秒だけください 目を閉じて 深呼吸 その間に忘れてあげるわ 愛してる っていうあなたの言葉は さよなら よりも哀しい これ以上 何も言わなくていい だから この夜を止めてよ あまい過去の記憶なんて わたしは惜しくない かたちのある未来なんか しがみつきたくはない おなじ色の夢みてたつもりで ちがう道を歩いてた 別れのときも選べないのなら せめて この夜を... 愛してるっていうあなたの言葉は さよなら よりも哀しい これ以上 何も言わなくていい だから この夜を止めてよ
ねえお願い
この夜を止めてよ
Hearing you say "I love you" is much sadder than "Goodbye" So please say nothing more and let this night stop Our chance encounter is just like breathing, no doubts about it I believed that every day of hurt, is the pain of love As we lower our voices, the secrets between us will be increasing one by one. I'll be wearing a smile, while crying inside I wanted to share the same dreams as you, yet we're running in opposite direction If we can't choose our chance encounter, at least let this night stop Being able to see your broad back, I'm fine with just that No matter how intense my love for you is, I still can't get a reply If you want to end it, please give me five seconds Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and I'll help you forget then Hearing you say "I love you" is much sadder than "Goodbye" So please say nothing more and let this night stop All those beautiful memories, I don't regret it at all I will not cling onto the so-called solid future Because we planned to share the same dreams, we're now running in opposite direction If we can't decide when to part, at least please let this night... Hearing you say "I love you" is much sadder than "Goodbye" So please say nothing more and let this night stop
SONG: KONO YORU WO TOMETEYO (JUJU)
LOST AND FOUND “Lost and Found” has been inspired by the song “Kono Yoru wo Tometeyo”. It transmitted the story of ex-couple giving a very strong feeling of sadness. The collection carries a concept of solitude and broken memories. The picture of sorrow and the sense of loss are delivered through the collection. They have been translated from conception through the details. The painful feeling like a broken glass, be anxious as volcanic eruption devastating everything, and the picture of memory was torn, are shown on the garments in different shapes and motif. Behind the designs they have a story. The collection is for Autumn / Winter 2016, which is monochromatic, all in black. Black is the one which has very strong meaning, represents of dark, loss, separation, and death. The beauty of this colour describes the concept of sadness on its own, and gives a mystery sensation. It does not have only a bad side, or negative feeling, black can also be the beginning, and lead us to brightness. The silhouette focused on the faminine character, emphasizes simple shape with exaggerated sleeves. The collection combines good quality fabrics and exquisite tailoring, which has 3 mains different fabrics: Viscose Jersey, PVC leather, and Czar Organza. The different surfaces of fabrics give different feeling and different shades of black. They created details telling a story of sadness in different way.
The period of sorrow, the sense of loss still stay. They were just hidden, and waiting to be released one day. Smile on a face is only defense, which is built to hide the true feeling and weakness. The painful feeling is like a broken glass, leaving only a fraction of the memory. Be anxious as volcanic eruptions, devastating everything. It cannot return as a picture was torn, the picture of memory was destroyed. However, it is the beginning and lead to something better. Wachirathida Kongchan
DIVERSITY ALL WALKS BEYOND THE CATWALK
WACHIRATHIDA KONGCHAN YEAR 3 BA FASHION HERIOT–WATT UNIVERSITY
DIVERSITY ALL WALKS BEYOND THE CATWALK The beginning of the diversity project has influenced by the idea of equality. It was inspired by the Japanese song names "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" The lyric is talking about people, everyone is different. As flowers, there are so many different kinds in the world. They all are different, but they are beautiful in their own way. We are the same, no matter who you are, everyone is the only one. I started researching the meaning of diversity in depth, and I found something very interesting about facilities for disabled people. Especially, transportation and pathway in London, it is very convenient and support for their living. It reminds me about the film “The Miracle Worker”, which is talking about Helen Keller’s story, who was a deafblind helping many people. She was an author, political activist and lecturer. That was the most important reason for me to take Braille and sign language to be my inspiration for diversity collection. I use stud, reflective tape and special kind for painting fabric to represent Braille and sign language on my way. Functional and adaptive clothes are also inspired me to develop my design. Diversity: All walks beyond the catwalk is the collection for Spring/Summer 2016. The colour palette is black, grey, blue and lime green. It is inspired by sportswear. Mesh, neoprene, viscose, and felt are the main fabric for this collection. The outfit includes top, skirt and jacket. It is suitable for very wide range of age and size.
HELEN KELLER
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a bachelor of art degree. She was born with the ability to see and hear. At nineteen months old, she contracted an illness described by doctor as “an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain”, which might have been scarlet fever or meningitis. The illness left her both deaf and blind. Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired, became Keller’s instructor and eventually her companion of a 49-year-long relationship. The story of how Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a new complete lack of language, has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and film “The Miracle Worker”.
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Look Back Root Track Wachirathida Kongchan
L O O K
B A C K
R O O T
T R A C K
The collection “Look back root track” has taken inspiration from one part of Wachirathida’s life. In 2013, Wachirathida had very serious back problem, she could not walk or stand properly. It was so tough time that she could not do what she wanted. Everything had to be controlled, lie down was the main thing and medicine was the main course. It was very hard, but at the same time, it was the beginning of her new journey. “Look back root track” is not only about spine, but it is also the philosophy reminding us to look back our root track. Looking at the past, see to understand, and learn to improve.
Locked in an Embrace Wachirathida Kongchan
The beginning of “Locked in an Embrace” came from the question about English Eccentrics. In my eyes, everything about English is a novelty, which cannot be found in my own country. Building, people, costumes, or even the weather, they all are new and interesting. Especially, art works they are unique, no rule, or limit of creating, but still look beautiful. It is clearly expressed that this is British style. It is what the British people could never understand why foreigners or tourists feel excited to buy souvenirs and clothing to witness the British look. With a strong feeling of British, and expressed as the foundation for authentic culture. I decided to take one of the traditional British garments to inspire my work of this project. That was a duffle coat. In the past, duffle coat is designed for soldiers, who have to face the worst climate such as storm, and often used to wear for travel by boat. Duffle coat is regarded as the clothes are durable and strong focus on usability. So many layers of clothing can be worn under the duffle coat.
The fastening was designed to secure easily, instead of closing by zipper or buttons in order to enlarge the thickness of the coat. Toggle can be found in the duffle coat only. The picture of the toggle inspires caressing tight leading to the idea, and become the main concept of the design. This collection has designed for Autumn/Winter 2015-2016. The main concept of this season is the evening light in the forest, which inspired the story. So the colour is also relate to this idea. Dark blue, dark green mixture will be the colour tone of this colour palette, look like the feathers of a peacock. Silhouette & detail of this collection will be combining between feminine and masculine. The dress is ideal feminine look, and retains the concept of “locked in an embrace” with loads of hands around the dress. The jacket will focus on the good turnout as a gentleman that emphasizes comfort, and also functional with two different pockets. The design also shows the original idea, which was duffle coat by fastening, to retain the concept.
Designer/Editor: Advisers:
Joy Wachirathida Kongchan Justine Head Chantelle Morton Jill Martin Nigel Buckner
Photographer:
Linda Jansdotter Joy Wachirathida Kongchan
Models:
Anna Dmitrijeva (Project: Lost and Found) Xiwen Zhang (Project: Lost and Found) Ifeoma Hood (Project: Lost and Found) Alicia Glinicki (Project: Love Laugh Life) Yuhui Liu (Project: Look Back Root Track, Locked in an Embrace)
Hair/Make-up Artist:
Pantong Niraswan Joy Wachirathida Kongchan
Location:
West London College Paddington Street Garden, London