The Alchemist of Fashion, Craftsmanship and Empowerment
Love at First Sight with the Belt
When I first arrived in Thailand, I only had a few pieces of summer dresses in my suitcase. Our family had spent previous months in Europe for my son’s cancer treatment. People had just started to take off their warm jackets in Europe. I thought we would reunite with our belongings from Hong Kong soon. Hence the very first things I bought in Phuket were accessories to enable my limited wardrobe to be suitable for different occasions.
It’s not surprising that in a tropical country like Thailand women’s clothing tends to draw inspiration from the colorful scenery. The vibrant colours and larger-than-life patterns on some belts I found instantly put a smile on my face. I picked them up and began to inspect them closely. Working for Hermes had turned me into a snob when it came to craftsmanship. I traced along the fabric, tested for irritation on my finger tips, checked every seam and connection between pieces. Not a single stitch out of place, the most exquisite part was the piping. It was the perfect marriage between colour matching with the main fabric and its skillful execution. I then moved to turn every single belt available in the shop around and did a similar inspection, the brilliance was consistent. Then I started to get worried, because I wanted to buy all of them, and I had a feeling it was going to cost me a fortune.
Culture Shocked by the Price Tag
I asked the shop owner how much each belt cost and I had to double check if she was telling me in Thai Baht or US dollars. The Obi Belt was sold for 1,200 Thai baht. (At time of writing, 1USD= 35 THB) She then mentioned the kimono belts were produced by a charity called Hope Bangkok. Wait a minute! Those stunners looked like they belonged in a luxury hotel or resort boutique. I had volunteered at a few charities before who had made textile products to raise money but those were items that you had to sell the cause first prior to the product. What I was holding in my hand were unique and desirable pieces, statements of fashion and sewing skills. Learning about the meaningful cause immediately closed the deal for me.
Gift not only the Fish but the Skill to Fish
Coming from over eight countries, members of Hope Bangkok met back in 2017 when they were volunteering to bring food to refugees at the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) every week. When covid hit, the center was forced to close, the team of dedicated volunteers decided to raise funds by selling handmade bags and accessories to support refugees outside of IDC as well as help bailing out refugees in IDC. Hope-Bangkok was officially founded in 2022 and its mission was to continue to help refugees come out of IDC and support families outside to meet their basic needs. Hope-Bangkok provides monthly basic-needs assistance to dozens of families through food donation, help with rent and medical expenses as well as education expenses. Hope Bangkok volunteers also offer sewing lessons and learning opportunities to empower women refugees and teach them some skills they can use when they are resettled to another country and able to work. From what we can see from the quality of the Thailand women’s clothing they produce, that skill set is definitely in demand.
Why You’d Love Their Products
Their made in Thailand women’s clothing is one-of-a-kind, and even the fabrics are donated or locally sourced. Hey, there is even this eco-factor for a feel-good-do-good purchase. Materials of each pattern are limited so there would be only few products being identical. I can assure you the belts play magic even on the most boring work outfit. It keeps the look formal enough but adds a hint of playfulness, reflects on your sense of humor, good taste and an invitation to be more approachable. Not to mention they instantly turn that one dress into multiple looks. It is the centerpiece that will turn heads, and when it comes to unique gift ideas, one of these memorable souvenirs from Thailand are sure to bring joy to a loved one.
If you’re not just buying clothes in Thailand but hoping to upgrade your whole home, Hope Bangkok can help with that as well. Their product range is not limited to fashion accessories such as tote bags, waist bags, yoga bags, laptop cases, and kimono belts. They also offer a home textile collection as well as women’s fashion jewelry. Over the next several months, I returned to the shop again and again to fill my new home with gorgeous houseware products. My husband and I agreed that we would not purchase any expensive pieces of furniture until our children turned 21 (when they would be out of our house). The gorgeous cushion covers made by the team of sewing bees at Hope Bangkok instantly upgraded the looks of our furniture. If you have friends still love reading physical books, the ladies make gorgeous book covers. I got one to keep my notebook for manifestations. It absolutely enriches the ritual.
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Price Range
The most expensive Hope Bangkok product are their weekend bags which retail at 3,000 THB, while the least expensive products like pouches, pencil cases, earrings, and coin cases start at 300 THB. At such reasonable price points, these babies are often sold out at fairs. They are all very light products that make perfect and unique souvenirs from Thailand, and can easily fit into your suitcases when you travel. In fact, I would never travel without one of these stunners. I can easily wrap the Obi belt on top of my jacket or shawl when I arrive at airport which is as cold as it is on the plane. The belt turns my coat as part of my outfit which allows me to pass security check without being asked to take it off.
Where to find Hope Bangkok
Currently most of their products are sold out. However, Hope Bangkok is going to launch an online shop in the near future. Please follow them on their Instagram page: hope_bangkok for the latest posts and announcements. You can also write to them to try your luck to see what is available for purchase.
