Sumate Phunkaew

Sumate Phunkaew was born in the northern Nan province, the son of primary schoolteachers. In addition to teaching, his mother wove cotton fabrics. Like most Thai parents, Sumate’s wanted their son’s life to be a successful one, so eschewing their son’s desire to be a fashion designer, they insisted on his becoming an engineer, focusing on the craft of mechanical drawing. Sumate, however, had been driven to become a designer since the age of five, and spent his non-school hours in Bangkok visiting boutiques, window shopping, and reading fashion magazines.

Upon graduating from college, he convinced his parents that making clothes for university students in Chiang Mai would be a lucrative profession, and opened a tailor shop on Tha Phae Road. Simultaneously, he opened a small stall in the Night Bazaar, selling his own creative fashions, where he was soon discovered by Japanese fashion interests, who began exporting his clothes to their own country.

Classic Model Fashions

In 1997, his fashions arrived in Bangkok, the result of a Central Chitlom buyer’s visit to Chiang Mai. Sumate’s clothes were soon on display on the 6th floor. By 1999, he was employing 150 workers in a manufacturing facility in the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai. Today, Sumate has two shops in Central Chitlom, two more in the Emporium complex, a flagship store on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 31, and another on Nimmanhemin Road in Chiang Mai. Plans are in the works for a total of ten shops by the end of 2005.

Classic Model Fashions

The “Classic” Look

Sumate’s emerging fashion empire encompasses three brands, Classic Model, with its bold, contemporary designs, Classic Lanna Thai, focusing on traditional silk and cotton motifs, and Classic Home Fashions, with cushions, table runners, and other designs for residential environments.

Classic Model presents striking, colorful, multi-planar silks, resplendent with pin-tucking, pleats, hand-stitching, knitting and braiding. His silk is soft and luxuriant, ideal for hand-washing, and light enough to be extremely comfortable in tropical climes. Sumate characterizes his silk as “so light that even a G-string will make you feel too heavy.” His hand-dyed fabrics reflect his own color designs, many of which utilize natural dyes, made from flora native to Thailand and Laos, such as soy (used for black and dark brown), and cumin (from which he creates the yellow aspect of his palette).

The fabrics used for a season’s clothing are utilized to create products for the Classic Home Design line, resulting in textiles and home accessories in a continually evolving riot of color and texture that mirrors the contemporary look that defines Classic

These luxurious, classic, and timeless designs mix-and-match extraordinarily well, and include jackets, blouses, tank tops, pants, dresses, belts, purses, and sandals, “perfect for long summer days --- and even better for a cocktail party.”

Classic Model Fashions

Classic Lanna Thai, which incorporates the traditional, ethnic northern look, also offers designs for men, rounding out roughly 10% of the collection.

Design philosophy

“I strive to create uniqueness, a contemporary identity that mixes East and West, a mix and match look that encompasses Oriental, Middle Eastern, an Indian motifs. The fabrics are relaxed, comfortable to wear, casual but elegant, and can be worn anywhere. Thai silk can mean many things in fashion, taking into account their modern design, their flexibility (wearable on day and evening occasions), and they’re easy to take care of, with no dry cleaning needed."

Sumate Phunkaew’s exceptional work can be seen at shops in Bangkok’s Central Chitlom and Emporium department stores, but are best seen in his own shops, staffed by his knowledgeable, friendly, and articulate crew.

Click here for the lush, sumptuous Classic Model collection!

In Bangkok, shop for Classic Model at:

Classic Model, 245/17 Soi Sukhumvit 31, Bangkok, tel: (02) 662-3144. We suggest taking a taxi from the Asok BTS Skytrain station. Turn left on Sukhumvit Soi 31, then ask the driver to stop at the first intersection, at the Euro Inn. His shop is right next door, as you proceed west. www.cm-fashion.com
GPS: N13°44.428’ E100°34.270’

Also see Classic Model outlets at Central near Chitlom BTS station, and the Emporium complex near Phrom Phong BTS station.

In Chiang Mai, buy Classic Model at:

Classic Model, 95/2 Nimmanhemin Road, Chiang Mai 50200. tel: (053) 216-810.
GPS: N18°47.980’ E098°58.037’