Onsirin Buranupakorn

When you think of Bangkok, Thailand, what comes to mind? Some people picture beautiful shining temples and golden Buddha statues. Others think of the red-light district and ways to re-create a night out like the one shown in The Hangover. Both traditional and dissolute, Bangkok is many things to many people. It is a city of firmly held conservative values, but it is also known for its sex trade and wild nightlife. It’s a unique city characterized by duality. In my thesis collection for Parsons' AAS Fashion Design program, I honor the city and the culture that I grew up in and explore Bangkok's dual nature. To create the collection, I combined the silhouettes of historical Thai garments with the mood and fabrication of lingerie and fetish wear. As someone who believes that fashion should be fun, fabulous, and friendly to the environment, I tried to minimize waste while creating this collection. The two looks you are seeing were sustainably constructed. The black dress was made from dead-stock fabrics. The black-and-white dress was made entirely from old and thrifted garments—a pair of Goodwill leggings, a single glove, and an old top from my closet.