DEFINING our own TEXTURE
It can take time to find one’s place in the world, one’s unique take on life. A thoughtful traveler might even move herself to a favorite destination to more fully experience its flavors and rituals. So corporate market researcher Boontavee Charoenpoonsiri’s passion for handbags drew her to Italy, where she trained with top accessory designers. Recalling her love of Thai textile craft, she returned to Chiang Mai, determined to showcase Thai heritage on the global fashion runway.
In the Chiang Mai market, however, it seemed that the traditions had died—the quality and beauty she recalled had disappeared. But fortune guided her to Mongkol Sae Guoy, a textile specialist and handweaving shop owner who preserved traditional methods and designs, employing local women and men with multi-generational collective experience. With Mongkol’s help, Boontavee was able to launch their boutique, a high-fashion accessory business recently renamed TORBOON.
In Thai, tor is weaving and boon are good deeds. Partners in life and business, Boontavee and Mongkol both strive to live up to this name. TORBOON produces exquisite, one-of-a-kind products, provides a healthy facility and a good wage to weavers who, in turn, preserve and breath new life into an ancient art.
In 2019, TORBOON was named one of Vogue’s up-and-coming designers, recognizing their ingenious ChiangMai bag for its iconic sticky rice bamboo basket design transformed for modern use.
Today, TORBOON has expanded its product lines to include casual apparel, accessories—caps, wallets, ties, and scarves—and home products. The spirit of its founders remains strongly woven into the brand, delivering beauty and joy in every stitch. Immersed in tradition and at home in the modern world, TORBOON helps us feel confident and beautiful as we are—defining our own texture.
