THAKOON

Born in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand, Thakoon Panichgul moved to Omaha, Nebraska with his family when he was 11. Upon graduation from Boston University with a degree in business, Panichgul moved to New York City and worked in merchandising for J. Crew before joining Harper’s Bazaar as a fashion writer. The experience roused his interest in designing and prompted him to pursue fashion design at the Parsons School of Design.

In 2004, Panichgul produced his first ready-to-wear collection to wide acclaim. Since then, he has created successful clothing lines for The Gap and Kohl’s, consulted for the Spanish brand Mango, started a second, lower-priced label (aptly named Thakoon Addition), and expanded into shoes and handbags. Through a nuanced combination of craft, modernity, and sensual femininity, Panichgul has created a niche following that includes the likes of brand advisor and Style.com fashion director, Yasmin Sewell, style editor Annie Georgia Greenberg, blogger Chriselle Lim, First Lady Michelle Obama, and the indomitable editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour.

For Panichgul, functionality is at the heart of every article of clothing he designs. Season after season, he offers innovative diversity through both casual and glamorous offerings all the while maintaining a sense of deliberate femininity that ranges from subtle to powerfully evocative constructions. Working with simple shapes, the au courant designer manages to consistently create modish, long-lasting wardrobe assets that remain just as fresh as when they first debuted. In December 2015, Thakoon announced that it had been acquired by Hong Kong-based family investment company Bright Fame Fashion. While Panichgul will remain founder and creative officer of the eponymous brand, the business model will be shifting away from traditional fashion calendar production where collections are previewed on the runway months before they are made available for sale. Responding to the market’s increasing demand for instant gratification and omnichannel accessibility, Thakoon plans to start delivering designer fashion in “real time” through e-commerce, brick-and-mortar stores, and selling through social mediums. The new business model is expected to help Thakoon scale and expand globally.

For Spring-Summer 2016, Panichgul brings an otherworldly quality to a lineup of articles that range from easy, breezy tie-dye to organic geometric patterns and playful piecing-together of contrasting materials. The collection is relaxed, evoking the qualities of loungewear without forgoing structure and careful handiwork. The designer’s “New Bohemia” vision manifests through lightweight pastel tunic-robes, silk slip dresses, and youthful numbers -- all ready to be worn from day to night, beach to dinner.