WWD x Siam Piwat GLOBAL FASHION SPOTLIGHT cements a new future for Southeast Asia’s fashion and luxury industry, putting Thailand on the map as a global fashion hub
Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail business developer, owner and operator of world-renowned projects including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery and a joint owner of ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok held a first of its kind event in Southeast Asia yesterday in collaboration with global fashion media giant, WWD. Together, the WWD x SIAM PIWAT GLOBAL FASHION SPOTLIGHT event entitled “SOUTH EAST ASIA – LUXURY’S NEW FUTURE,” reinforced Siam Piwat’s status as the leader in destination development, fashion, and luxury retail unlocking a new future for Southeast Asia’s fashion and luxury industries on the global stage. Other partners included Kasikornbank and SC Asset. The event was held on October 4, 2024, at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon.
Transforming the runway into a world-class stage for panel discussions, the event brought together thought leaders and influencers from across the fashion industry, spanning global luxury brands, Thai fashion brands, the country’s top designers, customers, retail partners, media, and numerous influencers.
Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Group, said, “For the past 40 years, Siam Piwat has been leading the charge in elevating the Thai fashion industry. Right from the beginning, our vision has been to develop Thai brands and designers and empower them with knowledge and skills to build their own businesses. To this end, we have collaborated with both public and private organizations, as well as leading global brands, to create a knowledge base for Thai fashion development as well as provide platforms for showcasing work and retail spaces in our shopping centers, thus creating a comprehensive ecosystem for the Thai fashion industry. This ecosystem has launched hundreds of leading Thai brands, from top-tier to emerging Thai designers and transformed the creativity and innovation of university students into
sustainable businesses. This has created a positive impact, generating tens of billions of baht in economic value and fostering robust growth for those in the Thai fashion industry ecosystem – a success now acknowledged worldwide. This ripple effect has also sparked numerous fashion-related economic activities far and wide. Through the years, Siam Piwat has been a platform of opportunity for Thai designers to showcase their potential and work on a grand scale, collectively elevating Thai fashion to global fame. Since the COVID-19 crisis onwards, luxury brands with flagship stores have seen exponential sales growth, which has placed them among the global top performers. This has transformed Thailand into a crucial strategic market for luxury brands. In response, these luxury labels are actively expanding their retail spaces and ensuring fully stocked inventories that include exclusive limited collections, with various new luxury brands gearing up to establish their presence in Thailand within Siam Piwat’s shopping centers.”
“We are thrilled to be hosting this important event with SiamPiwat”, said Amanda Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Fairchild Media Group. “Identifying new avenues for innovation is a pivotal opportunity for leading luxury brands, and gathering global industry leadership to discuss the growth of the Thai market on the world stage is vital to the future of our industry. It is how we will best evolve the international fashion conversation and drive success forall ofour businesses.”
“There is no better time to organize the Global Fashion Spotlight in Bangkok, and we thank SiamPiwatfor their partnership in creating this incredible experience for all of our special guests,” said James Fallon, Chief Content Officer, WWD and Fairchild Media Group. "As we continue to extend the global impact of WWD, we're thrilled to forge partnerships with the world's premier luxury lifestyle creators and brands, underscoring WWD’s mission to deliver the most timely, credible, high impact industry coverage to the fashion and retail communities."
WWD x SIAM PIWAT GLOBAL FASHION SPOTLIGHT kicked off with the first panel on the topic “Building Brands for a Global Consumer,” which delved into brand creation for the global fashion market. The panel featured renowned designer Wannasiri Kongman, Co-founder and Co-creative Director of BOYY, a luxury fashion brand that has garnered tremendous global success;
Lie Sang Bong, a legendary designer from South Korea, founder of the LIE SANGBONG brand, and the first person to hold the position of President of the Council of Fashion Designers of Korea; and Octo Cheung Yan Yu, Vice President of Shanghai Tang, a globally recognized luxury fashion brand founded in Hong Kong that elegantly captures an Asian identity. The panel was moderated by James Fallon, Chief Content Officer, WWD and Fairchild Media Group.
Panel 2, titled “Adapting to the New Luxury Landscape,” featured Suvadee Phungbunphra, Chief Executive Officer, and Orand Puipunthavong, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer, founders of PP Group, a leading importer and distributor of top brands that oversees image for luxury fashion brands from around the world in Thailand. They were joined by Emmanuelle Kouakou, Managing Director of Piaget Southeast Asia & Oceania, a leading Swiss jewelry brand, and Roberta Pellacci, Vice President of Marketing and Communications from Bvlgari Japan, a high-end Italian jewelry brand under the umbrella of luxury conglomerate LVMH. Together, they shared insights on how luxury brands are adapting strategically to market trends and consumer behaviors in Southeast Asia.
The event concluded with Panel 3, titled “South East Asia’s Power of Global Influence.” This panel featured well-known influencers including Heart Evangelista, a famous actress from the Philippines, up-and-coming businesswoman; Davika Hoorne, a multi-talented Thai actress and the first Thai person to be appointed a Gucci Brand Ambassador, and a Friend of the House Bulgari; and Nattawin “Apo” Wattanagitiphat, a Dior House Ambassador and the first Thai male actor to become a Global Brand Ambassador for Piaget. Together, they shared their thoughts on the growing global influence of Southeast Asia and offered insights from influencers’ perspectives on collaboration with world renowned brands. The panel was moderated by Lily Templeton, Watches Jewelry & Fashion Editor from WWD, and Sawitri Rochanapruk.
After the panel discussion, the distinguished guests were treated to extraordinary luxury with an exclusive cocktail reception in the Hall of Mirror on M Floor of Siam Paragon, which had been transformed into a space for a casual party to promote networking among thought leaders and influential figures in the fashion and luxury industries. The reception featured by Michelin-
starred chefs, including Blue by Alain Ducasse, a french restaurant which earned one Michelin star for three consecutive years, Sühring, a two-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant; and Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn, the owner of Nusara, a Thai fine dining restaurant ranked in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024. Also available for the guests to enjoy were an array of cool cocktails and mocktails from Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, recognized as one of the world’s best bars on the list of the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023.
WWD x SIAM PIWAT GLOBAL FASHION SPOTLIGHT marked another significant step for Siam Piwat Group in its role as a global leader and showcased the potential of the Thai fashion industry and the growing influence of Southeast Asia on the global fashion landscape.
This October, Siam Piwat Group will host Bangkok International Fashion Week 2024, Thailand’s premier fashion week event, which has been held annually for 17 consecutive years at ONESIAM, including Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery. This year’s event will take place October 2-6, 2024, themed “Envision the Future,” and will feature at least 15 participating Thai and global fashion brands as well as Siam Paragon-exclusive activities by various world-class luxury fashion brands. These include Gucci Thailand High-End Event, set to dazzle visitors with a curated selection of one-of-a-kind products from October 2-6, 2024 at Gucci Women Store on M Floor at Siam Paragon, and the Bulgari Eternally Reborn event, an exhibition of historic fashion pieces in celebration of the brand’s 140th anniversary, which has been staged in only seven countries worldwide and will run from October 1 to 27, 2024 at Siam Paragon. Added to this impressive lineup are Roger Vivier’s first pop-up store in Thailand and Miu Miu’s latest pop-up store. The event will also feature the Visionary Stage at Siam Center, where emerging designers and students from across Thailand will showcase their creative works at a national level with the prospect of being launched onto the international scene. Meanwhile, Siam Discovery is running a campaign called “Siam Discovery: The Revolutionary 2024,” where everyone can explore their personal style and enjoy exclusive experiences. International fashion brands and luxury brands will also be participating through various activities, such as CLUB 21 presenting brands like JACQUEMUS, COMME des GARCONS, and many others.
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About WWD
For 100+ years WWD, a property of Fairchild Fashion Media, has been the daily media of record—and THE industry voice of authority—for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also keeping informed the consumer media that cover the market. Often referred to as “the fashion bible,” WWD provides a balance of timely, credible business news and key fashion trends to a dedicated readership of retailers, designers, manufacturers, marketers, financiers, Wall Street analysts, international moguls, media executives, ad agencies, socialites, and trend-makers. As an increasingly complex marketplace heightens the need for information and competitive intelligence, WWD delivers with frequency, integrity, independence, spirited coverage, and a long tradition that demands staffers get the story right and that they also get it first.
About Siam Piwat
Siam Piwat is a leading retail and real estate developer that owns Bangkok’s top destinations, including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok. Siam Piwat has 50 subsidiaries across seven core businesses: real estate development, department stores, retail, food and beverage, venue management, digital platforms, and business support. Over the past six decades, Siam Piwat has played a significant role in shaping Bangkok's retail landscape and is recognized for creating iconic and innovative retail models, with the goal of consistently delivering extraordinary experiences that delight and inspire all customers. Committed to sustainable growth, Siam Piwat strives to foster social development, create shared value, enhance the quality of life, and bolster Thailand's reputation and presence on the global stage.
