‘Thai Cultural Week’ brings to the fore nation’s treasures

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Taking off from prospects the Expo 2020 Dubai is providing promising and recognised entrepreneurs from around the world, a fashion-cum-jewellery designer from Thailand is set to make the UAE her first overseas market point to the world.

Aside from her apparel lines at two of the high-end malls in Bangkok that have visiting Emiratis among her regular clients, Urairat Thanawatcharangkur shall also be bringing specifically to Dubai top-of-the-line synthetic diamond jewellery sets and her personal care collection.

Thanawatcharangkur bared her international business plans from the opening ceremonies of the “Thai Cultural Week” running until March 14 (Monday) at the Thailand Pavilion in the Mobility District of the historic World Expo in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, on Saturday afternoon.

“It is seizing the opportunity,” Urairat Thanawatcharangkur told Gulf Today. Her delegation presented before guests and visitors her Summer-Spring collection, a display of the Thai gold, synthetic diamonds and the combination of Thai silk, Thai hemp fabric, and Thai cotton, fashioned through innovation, on Saturday.

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The show manifested the rebound of the highly-competitive Thai textile and fashion industries, projected to reach $1.790 million (Dhs6,574,849.00) this 2022 by the Statista market research consultancy, despite the crippling effects of the Novel Coronavirus worldwide. Experts have factored in the resiliency of the over 1,200,000 employees that work in the 4,000 companies in Bangkok and in the east of the Southeast Asian kingdom, and the support they are receiving from the national leadership. It was a preliminary to the June 29 to 30, 2022 “Thailand Fashion Week” whereby the Thai creativity and adaptability to novel ideas and technology in ready-to-wear, avante-garde, haute couture, and accessories are highlighted.

Thanawatcharangkur who saw herself in the fashion industry in her youth has been in the business for over two decades. She believes that dressing up women in accordance to their personality would help boost their confidence and grace. She came up with the idea of creating and manufacturing her own set of synthetic diamond ideas two years back. She is excited at participating at the international jewellery show in Dubai in 2023: “I know we have one of the best if not the best craftsmanship in terms of jewellery so why not make this known to the world with the Thai brand.”

The “Thai Cultural Week” is a joint project of the Team Thailand in the UAE led by the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi and hosted by the Royal Thai Consulate General in Dubai.

In his speech, Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Chairat Sirivat said the special week was conceptualized so that Expo 2020 Dubai visitors shall have more interactive sessions with regards the Muay Thai martial arts, the Nuad Thai traditional massage, the “Khon” and “Nora” (“Thai Miracle”) cultural dance drama which has been among the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cutural Organization, Thai cuisine, arts and crafts.

Magnifying the colour of their pavilion, Team Thailand in a splendid sea of golden yellow that augurs prosperity, officially launched their participation at Expo 2020 Dubai late last year.

Guests from public and private entities as well as members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps in the UAE were welcomed by Thailand Ambassador to the UAE Waravuth Pouapinya, Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Chairat Sirivat, and a special delegation from Bangkok’s DIgital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), at the “Thailand Pavilion Networking Reception” held in Dusit Thani Dubai, among the iconic global representations of the unconquered Southeast Asian kingdom.

Prior to the launch, guests were treated to the live demonstration of the traditional garland-making and a mix of traditional and contemporary music, including the rendition of the UAE’s national anthem, the “Ishi Bilady” on the Khim or Kim, an ancient Thai stringed instrument by Naam Rangsee. They were enthralled and amused when the mascots of the pavilion namely Rak, a boy, and Li, a girl, surprisingly emerged and gamely posed for souvenir shots.