- Title: Breaking the rules, Thai designer turns school uniform into high-fashion
- Date: 28th September 2020
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 16, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI DESIGNER AND POST-THESIS BRAND OWNER, TIN TUNSOPON, SAYING: "By re-creating these uniforms and through various designs, people can see that we should no longer be attached to the (traditional) uniforms." BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 15, 2020) (REUTERS) TIN SITTING AT HIS WORK DESK AND TALKING TIN ROLLING UP MEASUREMENT TAPE VARIOUS OF TIN SKETCHING OUT DESIGNS BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 16, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI DESIGNER AND POST-THESIS BRAND OWNER, TIN TUNSOPON, SAYING: "The traditional school uniforms have existed since about 100 years ago. I think it's also an inherited culture, we certainly did not come up with the uniforms by ourselves, it was influenced by something else and it has remained the same ever since." BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 15, 2020) (REUTERS) SCHOOL GIRLS IN UNIFORMS WALKING BLACK SHOES ON FEET OF SCHOOLGIRLS WALKING PAST BOW ON STUDENT'S COLLAR LINE OF STUDENT'S SHOES STUDENTS LINING UP THEIR SHOES OUTSIDE CLASSROOM BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 16, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI DESIGNER AND POST-THESIS BRAND OWNER, TIN TUNSOPON, SAYING: "The uniform is not an indication that tells how students will turn out in the future. You can't just use the outdated values to say that a student is good because they follow the correct attire -- if they're not properly dressed, the student would be deemed unruly and bad. You can't measure them like that." VARIOUS OF TIN TALKING AND SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) THAI DESIGNER AND POST-THESIS BRAND OWNER, TIN TUNSOPON, SAYING: "I want people to consider the uniform style based on the students' interest, not the interests of others. We should be supporting whatever they feel comfortable wearing."
- Embargoed: 12th October 2020 10:35
- Keywords: Thailand designer fashion high-school rules school strict uniform
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA004CXQPG7B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In Thai classrooms, showing a rebellious or creative streak through what you wear is difficult.
School uniform rules are strict, down to how pupils' hair should be cut and the type of socks and shoes they are allowed to wear.
But as students around the country push back against what they call archaic rules and join a broader pro-democracy movement, a young clothing designer is throwing his support behind them in a colourful way.
Tin Tunsopon has taken the typical uniform of pleated skirts and white sailor shirts for girls and neat shorts and white shirts for boys and blown them up into exaggerated versions with huge collars and sleeve ruffles made from shoe laces.
"By re-creating these uniforms and through various designs, people can see that we should no longer be attached to the (traditional) uniforms," 23-year-old Tin told Reuters.
But his creations are not just for fashion. Tin hopes that his designs will also help change the mindset of people -- students can't be judged by how they wear their uniforms. Students aren't good or bad because of the way they wear their uniforms. Skirt hems, colours of shoes, a collar turned up or down shouldn't be used to judge the wearer.
The name 'Post-Thesis' derives from Tin's graduation project in which he studied the purpose of the uniforms and their existence while exploring how they can be changed.
His collection called "Rule Breakers" is based on the dowdy uniform, but is made-to-order and can be worn by anyone.
Tin's out-of-the-box designs have caught the attention of intimate women's apparel brand, Wacoal, and they now are collaborating to create a ready-to-wear uniform for "modern day girls who are unafraid to express themselves and move with confidence".
"In the end, the uniforms that break away from traditional structures, although they still resemble uniforms, they are creative. I want to support kids so they can be as creative as they can," he says.
The exclusive ready-to-wear collaboration with Wacoal has just been launched in June with prices ranging from $100 to $475 a piece.
(Production: Artorn Pookasook, Jorge Silva, Juarawee Kittisilpa, Masako Iijima ) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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