As a working mum, I often take a larger-than-life tote bag out with me which holds everything I need and allows me to move from the playroom to the office, the supermarket, restaurants, and sometimes, even the beach! Although I like to be practical, I do not like the fact that I always have to drag such a heavy bag around. (Yes, those few extra pairs of socks take up a lot of space and weigh more than you might think.) I would like a “small but big enough” bag that lies absolutely flat, like a piece of paper, so I can slip it into my tote bag and only take it out when I need to quickly dash somewhere with the absolute essentials, namely: my phone, wallet, a lip balm and of course, handkerchieves (yes, it’s hot here in Thailand and I sweat a lot.)
Seek and Ye Shall Find
Maison De Auri was founded three years ago amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, this has to be the 3rd or even 4th brand I have covered on Taitaitanthai.life that was created during COVID. Well, well, well, speak of the creative power generated from solidarity!
Khun Auri, shared with us the birth of her very own maison, which she achieved by up-cycling the fabrics she found at her family business:
“I was looking for something entertaining to do. My family conveniently owns a textile and Thai women’s clothing factory. As a result, I come up with this brand, Maison De Auri, which is my name in French and means “auri’s house.” Since I’m passionate about fashion, the people, and the atmosphere in France, this brand has captured the attitude and style of the country. It’s not simply a bag. It’s a way of life.”
Details, Details & More Details
I love the tiny leather label with the brand Maison de Auri proudly sewn onto each bag. Moreover, each bag is bag is knitted and made individually to present the pattern and its unique style. How fun it is to be able to mix and match different leather straps or chains— and it makes each bag even more versatile and not limited by the colors or designs of each pattern.
As most of you are surely aware by now, my passions are fashion, bags, shoes, and accessories. Why is a single bag all we need? What if we could switch out our luggage for clothes? Since dressing up and mixing things up makes life more enjoyable, we strive to create a wide range of bags. Knit is the material I usually choose because it is soft, elastic, flexible, and easy to care for. It also looks premium and beautiful and can match with any look or style: it can be used anywhere, at any occasion, and it comes in many sizes.
Despite taking lots of time, effort, and labour to create each bag, their retail price starts at only 490 THB! The most expensive collection, SAC, (which is a large bag that can fit a laptop,) costs only 1,090 THB. At time of this article’s creation, 1 USD was trading at an exchange rate of 35.6 THB. These bags are not only fun, affordable, but also classic, timeless, and stylish.
“The primary target audience consists of working women between the ages of 25 and 50 who enjoy dressing up or want to purchase memorable gifts for friends. At a reasonable cost, most clients can afford to get it for themselves because it isn’t very pricey. Customers always want to get one so I can gift it to friends on different holidays. The material is a tightly woven knit cloth that is long-lasting, readily cleaned and washed, and sturdy. Because of the unisex pattern, we’ve noticed an increase in male consumers placing orders recently. During the previous New Year’s season, a large number of male clients purchased items as gifts for their mothers and girlfriends. Thus, I believe I will search for the men’s market in the future.”
Launching Collections of Bags as if in Prêt a Porter
I think the bags momentarily confuse you into thinking you’re looking at a piece of clothing, in the same way the moment of inspiration can strike! Maison de Auri bags collections remind me of those in Prêt a Porter. The brand has limited editions for various occasions— such as the Chinese New Year designs pictured above— capture the essence of the festivities without looking too cliché or old-fashioned!
Since Maiso de Auri bags resemble a cardigan, I’ve got to ask about maintenance, as having children ensures that stains always find their way into my life. I was told the following: “it is recommended to hand wash, or use wet tissues. When cleaning, wipe only the stained areas.”
A Thai Brand with an International Vision and Presence
“I would like Maison de Auri to be a Thai brand that is appreciated here but also bought as souvenirs from Thailand that people can give to visitors as well as foreigners living overseas. To maintain a competitive retail price, in Thailand, we sell online only.”
FB: https://www.facebook.com/maison.de.auri
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maison.de.auri/
In Taiwan, there is a pop-up store in Taipei and an online shop:
https://maisondeauri.com.tw/
In Korea, there is a pop-up store in Seoul and an online shop:
https://smartstore.naver.com/casegallery/category/4743a13fb1864b3fa74cd26b1df8a363
In Hong Kong, there is a pop-up store and an online shop, which is located here:
https://maisondeauri.boutir.com/
