Seventeen-year-old designer Sasimanus “Mika” Bunnag has worked with Chayanna Siripirom, founder of Thai silk brand Chayanna, to create Mutelu, a collection inspired by Thai beliefs and designed for a new generation of wearers.
The collection was unveiled at Siam International Fashion Week Visit Khon Kaen, held as part of a Thai silk event in Khon Kaen on Sept 25–26. Mika, a Year 13 student at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, developed the designs during an internship with the brand.
Mika said her interests in fashion, Thai silk, symbolism and mu te lu — a term associated with spiritual beliefs and practices — shaped the collection. Rather than reproducing religious images or objects, she studied the meanings and emotions people attach to belief and translated them into the garments’ lines, silhouettes and construction details.
“For me, these ideas are not simply about superstition, but about the emotions, meanings and stories that people attach to belief,” she said. “I wanted to bring this personal interest into fashion while also exploring Thai silk from the perspective of someone from my generation.”
The collection combines understated designs with elements of power dressing. Mika said she wanted the garments to convey confidence while remaining practical enough for everyday wear, giving Thai silk a place in wardrobes beyond formal occasions.
“The goal is not to turn Thai silk into something overly extravagant or simply make traditional fashion look younger,” she said. “I want to explore how Thai silk can become more present within the contemporary Thai fashion scene, while still respecting the craftsmanship and cultural identity behind it.”
Ms Chayanna said Mika took part in developing the collection, from researching its intended audience and shaping its concept to learning about garment production and marketing. The internship gave her a chance to experience both the creative and business sides of fashion.
According to Ms Chayanna, Mika examined familiar expressions of belief in Thailand, including zebra statues offered at shrines and three-coloured cloth tied around trees. Instead of using those images as decorative motifs, she drew on the hope and faith behind them. Respect for differing beliefs became a central idea of the collection.
Chayanna works with silk from Chonnabot district in Khon Kaen, drawing on local knowledge of pattern making, natural dyeing and weaving. Ms Chayanna said designers must understand the weight, texture and structure of each piece of handwoven fabric to create clothing that is comfortable, practical and made to last.
She said working with young designers also brought new tastes and perspectives to the brand, helping it explore how Thai craftsmanship could reach a wider audience. Mika said she hoped to continue developing her skills and show young people and international audiences that Thai silk could keep evolving within contemporary fashion.
