Thai fashion at Cocoricooo

We often look to the high street for all our fashion items and ignore the small independent shops. After seeing the clothing at Cocoricooo, this will definitely change.

Cocoricooo was created by Pook who studied art and sold clothes part-time at the night market in Chiang Mai. She dreamt of having a clothing business and liked to dress in her own way. However, she could never find clothes that suited her from the shops. She started making her own clothes and selling them at the market and they sold very well. This led her to make a concept for her designs involving ethnic and eastern culture techniques.

When you look at the drape on the clothing and some of the prints, there are obvious eastern influences. For example, this long tunic blouse has a Japanese motif printed on it and these Helen skirt/pants are full and baggy. It can be worn as a skirt or the buttons can be put together to create wide-legged trousers. 

Pook’s garments aren’t meant to be mainstream: “I don’t want to be too concerned about mainstream fashion or trends. So people can always wear them no matter what is ‘in’ at the time. Also, when I design I don’t think of it as a piece of clothing, more like an art piece, but instead of hanging it on the wall, you can wear and enjoy them in your daily life.” What is great about Cocoricooo’s garments is they are quite innovative, but have an ethnic quality to them. 

This Alexis dress is simple but it has a boho look to it. It’s perfect for a holiday, but with the deep berry colour it could be teamed with a cardigan, tights and pumps for a cute winter look too. If you want a jumpsuit for your holiday next year, then this one is worth investing in. The print is simple but the cut is fab.

So what inspires Pook to create these stunning pieces? “I love all old handmade arts, hand-embroidery of the Hmong people, embroidery patterns from India, Nepal, Tibet, etc. I collect many of them. Just looking at them makes me feel good. I also collect many books about vintage art.” You can really see the eastern influence in these Sugar In My Bowl pants. 

Now when you’re looking for your next outfit, consider the indie shops and not just mainstream retailers. They are clearly capable of producing stunning clothing, especially Cocoricooo. Check out their products here. 

Jenny Rodgers
Photos: Courtesy of Cocoricooo