The co-founders normally spend their working hours in the office, but sometimes they find discussing projects in a new environment like a café helps stimulate creativity and creates new ideas.
With complementary backgrounds, Thanyaporn Jiratham-o-pas and Bussarin Assawaviriyakit make a strong duo in building their own brand. While Thanyaporn holds a degree in fashion and Bussarin is a digital marketing buff, the two sea-lovers spotted gaps in the local market in for ultracool swimsuits. In 2015, they launched Coralist Swimwear online. Its functional and fashionable pieces attract millennial beach bums who love to buy things with just a click. Now the online swimwear retailer has expanded into selected multi-label boutiques, enjoys receiving orders from all over the world, and can also boast to have over 15,000 followers on Facebook and 30,000 on Instagram.
How did you start off the swimwear line?
Thanyaporn: It was a casual conversation that came out of our personal interests. I love diving and was looking for fashionable-looking suits that were functional at the same time. When we did some in-depth studies, we found that there were market opportunities. We thought we could work together in creating expensive-looking urban-chic swimwear. So we gave it a try.
What’s the challenging part in setting up your own business?
Bussarin: The supply chain still challenges us these days [laughs]. There are not many local suppliers that have what we are looking for. We still need to keep sourcing the best materials.
Thanyaporn: Also, in making swimwear, there are small details to pay attention to such as lining, pads, fabric textures and elastic quality while we don’t compromise in our designs and quality. We primarily use imported nylon spandex fabrics, for instance.
Coralist Swimwear’s sales and marketing manager Bussarin Assawaviriyakit and business development manager and creative designer Thanyaporn Jiratham-o-pas.
Tell us about the first collection.
Thanyaporn: It was the pre-fall 2015 collection. We define our style as “simply exquisite” — simple-looking designs with details.
Bussarin: We kicked off online campaigns and introduced the brand as exclusive-designed swimwear. Influencer-marketing was our main emphasis and we received great feedback.
So the brand depends largely on the digital market?
Thanyaporn: Around 60-70% of our orders are from online. But still, some of the customers prefer the in-store experience to try and touch real products. We have recently started to integrate both on and offline with our presence in some multi-brand boutiques.
What are the pros and cons in online shopping?
Bussarin: The good points are that it can become viral and reach target customers instantly. People are becoming familiar with mobile and online payment and their buying decisions are fast. The payment is convenient. The transaction can be done within five minutes. But the cons can be that customers still want to try products especially when they shop for a swimsuit. Good fits and flattering styles are important, too.
Name: Bussarin Assawaviriyakit and Thanyaporn Jiratham-o-pas
Occupation: Swimwear business owners
Location: Phatthanakan Road
An inspiration wall above Thanyaporn’s desk where she pins images and quotes that inspire Coralist Swimwear designs.
‘This is like our colour scheme bible,’ Thanyaporn said of Garth Lewis’s 2000 Colour Combinations: For Graphic, Textile And Craft Designers.
The initial sketches of Zenia, the best-selling piece from their latest spring/summer 2016 collection.
Into the Wood printed organdy is featured in the recently-released capsule collection for Statement multi-label store in Thong Lor.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.