Aurapraphan Sudhinaraset. Somchai Poomlard
‘I really like the skinhead haircut,” said Aurapraphan Sudhinaraset, smilingly. “I’m not changing the style. It’s liberating and comfortable. I shaved the head even before [having chemotherapy].”
September last year, Aurapraphan was diagnosed with extraovarian cancer. Upon returning from a trek on Mount Bromo in Indonesia, she felt a strange stomach pain. She went to her regular masseuse and got her tummy massaged. As the therapist placed her fingers on the abdomen, a lump was found.
“I went to the doctor first thing the next morning,” Aurapraphan recalled, assuming it was the common chocolate cysts. “Because I was only worried about not being able to go on a trip to Croatia with my mother in the next 10 days.”
The tumour was removed the day after. “Cancer, isn’t it?” she playfully asked her mother as she sensed that the doctor and her mother were trying to protect her from bad news, while the cells had started to spread to the lymph nodes. She admitted that it “startled” her — a little.
To cure the 1C stage cancer, Aurapraphan underwent chemotherapy four times. The side effects caused by the conventional treatment were oedema, emotional stress, overeating and weight gain.
Thanks to her laid-back attitude, it wasn’t too hard for her to cope with the physical change and manage the emotional effects. “I still went to work, but I was doing things more slowly. It was only during the third and fourth session of chemotherapy that I felt nauseated, anxious and depressed just by seeing the hospital building.”
“I just kept myself busy by doing something else,” she said. “When I was hospitalised, I turned on YouTube to entertain myself. Watching Gang Sam Cha comedy shows or soap series like Club Friday could break the mood.”
“One thing that makes people living with cancer become unnecessarily down could be that they hear something like ‘Are you OK?’ every single day. When you’re physically weak, you could become really sad and indulge in self-pity when people keep telling you that.
“Cancer is a symptom. It’s curable,” she said with a firm voice. “But yes, there are fatal risks. People can die of it. But as you’re dying, don’t be sad. I was only worried about not having yet seen a lot of destinations I planned to explore. And my mother. I cannot leave her alone. So I’m not dying. I was telling everyone ‘Don’t worry, I’m not dying. I’m totally fine’.”
Her mother and Aurapraphan — both putting up a strong front — might have unconsciously gained strength from each other. Aurapraphan faced the illness bravely and without any hint of despondency. After the six stormy months, she came back to full form in March, appreciating those around her more dearly and making more disciplined lifestyle choices.
“I’ve become more decisive, naturally,” she added. “Having been through that period, my way of thinking has changed. I used to be a very chill type of person. Now, if I see something doesn’t work, I just can’t stand it. If you’re not doing what you love or feel happy about, change it. I make decisions more quickly. Things become much clearer.”
Entering a new chapter, Aurapraphan holds the title of creative director — added to her primary role as managing director — of Vickteerut. Her involvement with the brand started in 2009 when her close friend Veegrit Wongwatanasin (brother of Teerut “Vick” Wongwatanasin, the brand’s founder and namesake) asked if she could lend a hand in the business operations.
Taking advantage of her degrees in fashion and marketing communications (from Chulalongkorn University and the University of Westminster, respectively) and long-time styling career, Aurapraphan took the venture as she saw the fashion-forward potential of Teerut’s mathematical designs.
“Vick is very smart. He’s shown steady improvement. He’s actually a tech geek. So when he translates that into his designs, his patterns and lines really reflect who he is. It’s another level of fashion.”
Now, the 36-year-old takes responsibility for operations, design and production. She is leading the brand to a new direction where Vickteerut’s clean minimalism and sharp subtlety are redefined. The Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, which will arrive in stores later this month, embarks on a novel experimental move, resulting in new silhouettes, techniques and layers. Keeping her fingers crossed, in the transition Aurapraphan accepted that it’s challenging to balance creative with commercial demands amid turmoil in the local fashion industry and an uncertain consumer climate.
With the casualwear sister brand Vick’s, the managing director/creative director is also committed to incorporating Thai handwoven textiles into the urban resortwear. Wedding dress line Vickteerut The Marriage is, meanwhile, set to walk down the aisle by the end of this year.
One would know that she’s got seriously itchy feet just by sneaking into Aurapraphan’s Instagram account. Her unique adventures include exotic destinations with unusual names like Iguazu Falls, the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, Pamukkale, Cappadocia in Turkey, Lake Titikaka in Peru and Zanzibar in Tanzania. To her, natural grandeur is a feast for the eyes.
“Pakistan,” she said, her eyes glowing with wanderlust. “I haven’t planned what to do yet, but at the top of the list is to drive along the scenic Karakoram highway.”
“Do you wanna join us?” she asked semi-casually.
Looks from the Vickteerut Autumn/Winter 2016 Collection. Vickteerut
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.