A significant number of clothing designers work in Chiang Mai, many of whom incorporate tribal and traditional Lanna or Thai elements. While clothing shops are found in virtually every neighborhood, four of the best spots to find contemporary Chiang Mai fashion are on Charoenrat Road, Loi Kroh Road, Nimmanhemin Road (which holds an Art & Design Pomenade the first week of every December), and the Northern Village shops at Central Airport Plaza. In addition, the new Kad Dhara complex is now open in the Dhara Dhevi Hotel and Spa complex off Sankamphaeng Road.

Traditional woven textiles are to be found in many of Chiang Mai’s fashion boutiques, as well as silk and cotton fabrics sold by the meter. There are also several shops selling elements of interior design, which are listed below as well.

Many silver designers in Chiang Mai also offer jewelry and accessories.

Overview |  Nimmanhemin Road |  Central Airport Plaza |  Charoenrat Road |  Kad Dhara |  Loi Kroh Road |  More shops

Shops on, or near, Nimmanhemin Road are all located within seconds of each other, near the junction of Nimmanhemin and Huai Kaew roads.

Ayodhya, Nimmanhemin Soi 1, Chiang Mai, 50200. Tel: (053) 358-249. This shop’s wonderful home accessories include dynamic baskets and vases made from cork-like water hyacinth. They must be seen to be appreciated. This concern also has a store in Bangkok’s Gaysorn complex, but the staff here are much friendlier. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.984’ E098°58.062’

Classic Model, 95/2 Nimmanhemin Road, Chiang Mai 50200. Tel: (053) 216-810. Sumate Phunkaew is a world-class designer, whose work in silk and cotton is breath-taking, unique, and decidedly Thai. His work can be seen in Bangkok, but he lives in Chiang Mai, and this particular shop would be considered exceptional in any city. www.cm-fashion.com
GPS Coordinates: N18°47.980’ E098°58.037’

Fai Ngam, Apartment E, Nimmanhemin Soi 1, Chiang Mai50200. Tel: (053) 221-130. Khun Noi (Vorakorn Wongwigayakarn) appears to be the only Nimmanhemin designer making clothes for men, and they’re exceptional, hand-stitched, with interesting buttons. He desgns his own cotton patterns, and has a small, but exotic line for women as well. He will also make one-of-a-kind custom clothing. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.984’ E098°58.067’

Khampan, 6/6-7 Nimmanhemin Road, Chiang Mai, 50200. Tel: (053) 400-489. Designer Dusadee Chaikuna has been in her family’s clothing business since she was a child. Eventually, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design, and now features a line of fine natural cotton black and white designs for women. Her clothes work equally well in casual to semi-formal settings, in hot, humid climates. GPS Coordinates: N18°48.027’ E098°58.028’

Paothong’s Private Collection, 4 Soi 1 Nimmanhaemin Road, Chaing Mai. Tel: (053) 217-715. Ajarn Paothong is an exceptional designer as well as a noted collector of vintage textiles, and teaches at Bangkok’s Thammasat University. His shop is a fashion world-of-wonder, in an ethereal Asian setting. Here, you step through a moon gate and will find fashions and artifacts in a beautiful three storey Chinese-influenced house. This shop replaces his old one on Charoenrat Road. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.982’ E098°58.054’

Sipsong Panna, 95/19 Nimmanhemin Road, Chiang Mai 50200. This exceptional shop offers antique and contemporary silver jewelry, old Burmese silver bowls, and hill tribe arts and crafts. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.990’ E098°58.028’

Srisanpanmai, 6 Nimmanhemin Soi 1, Chiang Mai. Tel: (053) 894-717. Designer Anchalee Sripasang designs contemporary clothing inspired by tribal motifs. While we were there, her 5 year old daughter, Lan Dok Mai, was busy drawing her own designs on a large piece of paper, indicating that the family business will evolve into the next generation. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.971’ E098°58.053’’

Ta-Wan Décor, 1 Nimmanhemin Road, Chiang Mai 50200 Tel: (053) 894-941. Poj Hongsanan has crafted all means of home accessories out of mango wood, which he smokes and dyes, and through which we weaves accenting native fibers. Our favorites were the bowls, with beige ribs exposed down the sides. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.994’ E098°58.044’

Nimmanhemin Art & Design Promenade. This event, featuring fashions from Chiang Mai’s top designers, is held during the first week of every December on Nimmanhemin Road, Soi 1.

Northern Village, Central Airport Plaza, corner of Maidol and Chiang Mai-Hod Road, Chiang Mai. tel: (053) 281-661. Open 10:30 am – 9 pm. We have found several exceptional designers hosting their own shops at Northern Village, located within the Central Airport Plaza, primarily on floors 1 and 2. In addition Northern Village shops have nice selection of contemporary northern crafts.

The first floor is given mainly to tribal-inspired contemporary clothing, while the second concentrates mainly in housewares. Northern Village comprises dozens of individually-owned shops, which gives the Village an individual flair, decidedly non-corporate in nature. While virtually every shop has merit, we found the following to have exceptional design quality. Each shop’s name is followed by its internal address within the village.

All of these are located on the first floor:

• Moo Ka Num (NV-018). Beautifully-designed, contemporary ceramics. Unique.

• Muser Deang (NV-089). Made from hemp, the men’s fashions in this shop are extraordinary, incorporating yarn piping, block printing, and elegant buttons.

• Niyomthai (NV-049). Traditional crafts are melded with contemporary designs to create clothing that is unlike anything we’ve yet seen.

• Saa Siam Paper Factory (located in one of the center kiosks). We’ve always loved sa handmade paper, which includes plant life embedded in its fibers. Here, you can buy everything from rolls of the paper itself, to a good range of goods made from, or surrounded by, the paper.

• Sangboon (NV 001-002). Sangmanee Sangboon’s beautiful designs can be seen in these two adjacent shops, in fashions ranging from dressy to casual. Tel: (09) 851-6118.

• Treung Ta (NV-003). Designer Pairat Sawasdisara has created elegant silk fashions for women, exceptional designs that incorporate ethnic motifs. tel: (053) 323-169

• Sompor-Collection (NV-056.) We were bowled-over by a lovely tribal-inspired dress and blouse ensemble, and the rest of Sittichok Pompuak’s designs are just as good. Tel: (01)180-3041.

Shops on or near Charoenrat Road, on the eastern bank of the Ping River, north of the Nawarat Bridge include:

Aka Walai, 35 Rattanakosin Road, Watgate Muang, Chiang Mai 50000. Tel: (053) 260-514. Located on Rattanakosin Road, off Charoenrat Road, in the northeast of the city, Aka Walai is the incredible home and display showcase of architect-designer Eakrit Pradistsuwana. Here, you begin by walking through the gates to a 1960s international-style house, filled beautifully with Eakrit’s furniture, ceramics, and housewares. Essentially, this is a design museum, and here you can buy the art. Ordinarily, we’d feel it not worth the effort to fill a container with thai furniture to ship home, but this collection is unique. To get here, take Rattanakosin Road east out of the city, then turn left at GPS Coordinates: N18°48.020’ E099°00.476’. The house is located down the road at GPS Coordinates: N18°48.092’ E099°00.467’

Sop Moei Arts, 5 Charoenrat Road, Chian Mai 50000. Tel: (053) 213-962. Kent Gregory’s exceptional shop features delightful, tribal-inspired fashions for men and women, table runners, and fashion and home accessories. Everything is woven by Karen tribespeople, and your purchases have a positive effect on the life of the villagers. Gregory is a designer, linguist, and a benefactor, and his shop is well worth a visit. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.458’ E099°00.295’

Vila Cini, 30 Charoenrat Road, Chiang Mai, 50000. Tel: (053) 246-246. This is a large fashion and housewares company occupying a beautiful 100 year-old traditional house. Fashion (in the southern extension) and housewares are separated by a courtyard. The fashion side of the house includes clothing, textiles, table runners, and cushion covers, and includes an upper-storey, where you may buy silk by the meter. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.451’ E099°00.212’

Located to the right of the entrance to the huge Dhara Dhevi Hotel and Resort, Kad Dhara boasts a dozen or so fashion and antiquities boutique, including Classic Model, Sangboon, Vila Cini, and Ban Chancome. To get there, drive on San Kamphaeng Road for approximately 3 Km past the Highway 11 (Ring Road) intersection. Turn right at GPS Coordinates: N18°46.867 E099°02.319’, then proceed to the complex, roughly 500 meters down the road. Kad Dhara is located at GPS Coordinates: N18°46.712’ E099°02.333’

Shops on Loi Kroh Road (shops are listed geographically from west to east) are lcated mainly between the eastern moat and the Night Bazaar area. These shops typically stay open until 11 pm or so.

Gong Shop, 12/8-9 Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai 50100. Tel (053) 208-048. Here, designer Supunee “Gong” Damkam displays fashions suitable for women in all age categories, utilizing Thai fabrics inspired by tribal, contemporary, and traditional design. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.090’ E098°59.672’

Mat Mi Textile Gallery, 59 Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai 50100. This shop offers modern and traditional textiles. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.072’ E098°59.746’

Earth Tone, 62/1 Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai 50100. Tel: (053) 283-577. Designer Treechada Manomong has created a stunning collection of creped cotton blouses and skirts in eye-catching colors. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.047’ E098°59.794’

Pa Ker Yaw, 180-184 Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai 50100. Tel: (053)275-491. This “can’t miss” shop is located east of the Night Bazaar area, close to Charoen Prathet Road. Here, you’ll find trical baskets, clothing, and jewelry. Especially compelling are the tribal baby carriers displayed on the south wall. Closed Sunday. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.030 E099°00.153’

Success Silk Shop, 56 Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai. Tel: (053) 208-853. Located just east of the moat, Success specializes in patchwork clothing made from old textiles, woven hats, and scarves.

Woven Dreams, 30/1 Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai. Tel: (0053) 272-569. Located just east of the moat, this shop sells antique Thai and Lao textiles.

Golden Thai Silk, 27 Tha Phae Road, Soi 3, Chiang Mai. Tel: (053) 271-563. Located east of the Tha Phae gate, here you will find silk woven by the meter, as well as individual pieces.

The Loom Textile Gallery, 90 Ratchiang Saen Road, Chiang Mai 50100. Tel: (053) 278-892. Located just south of the Chiang Mai gate, the Loom operates in the upstairs portion of a traditional house, displaying a wonderful selection of cotton, hemp, and silk textiles. GPS Coordinates: N18°46.860’ E098°58.943’

Patcharin Thai Silk, 340 Tha Phae Road, Chiang Mai 50300. Tel: (053) 232-626. Dressmaker Pacharin Prapin’s upscale store has a beautiful selection of silk and cotton fabrics, and well as tribal textiles. GPS Coordinates: N18°47.284’ E098°59.708’

Studio Naenna, 138/8 Soi Chiang Khian, Huay Kaew Road, Chiang Mai. Tel: (053) 226-042. Located 5 km northwest of the Old City, the shop is run by Patricia Cheeseman Naenna, who has written extensively on Thai textiles. Her philosophy is to help individual weaving families to carry on the tradition, and her shop sells clothing and accessories made by them, and books on Thai weaving. Open 8 am – 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, but call first.

Tananan Willson Haute Couture, 25 Ratchadamnoen Road, Chiang Mai. Tel: (053) 278-325. Tananan’s wonderful high-design shawls (and dresses made from them) can be seen at his tiny but important shop, just west of the eastern moat. www.tanananwillson.com GPS Coordinates: N18°47.284’ E098°59.560’