Thai accessories brand Goodjob introduced a range of origami inspired tote bags, coin purses and wallets at the BIG+BIH trade fair in Bangkok recently.
Each item in the range is made from a single piece of material joined together using a combination of origami or Japanese paper folding techniques and Kumiki, which are the interlocking details of Japanese wooden architecture. The items can be sold already assembled or as a flat piece with instructions if customers prefer the DIY approach.
The collection is called Sowsaq—a Japanese word comprised of the characters Sow meaning imagination, and Saq which means creation—and was designed by a Japanese member of the Goodjob team.
Founder Sujin Osatarayakul says it was important to get a different perspective on Thai culture so the brand could create a unique range.
“We needed a foreigner to look back into Thai culture and see what they perceived and what they could work with—what is our unique quality that you can feel and develop,” she says. “It’s an experimental design. Our designer combined some Japanese style with Thai.”
Osatarayakul began Goodjob in 2005, importing fine stationery items for architects, before deciding to launch her own line. “I thought we should develop our own range because Thai designers have a lot of potential, they are very talented,” she says.
Across Goodjob’s collections, which are aimed at professionals, the brand uses a range of recycled, synthetic and genuine leather items.
“We like our customers to look good; when you’re holding our stuff you look professional. Some Thai products have a sense of humour, but we like to do a professional range.
“We also like to offer more variety because different users have different needs. In developed countries they love recycled leather—it’s like meeting halfway between leather, which is too expensive, and synthetic leather, which isn’t as durable. So it’s a good middle ground.”
As the recycled leather is made in a large German factory, Osatarayakul says she tries to combine the modern and the traditional in many of her designs. A recycled leather notebook for example is shipped to provinces in Thailand so local craftspeople can add a unique touch.
“We ship this notebook to the country areas and send it with coloured thread to different households. We let them mix any colours that they like together, and so all the notebooks come back differently.
“We think that’s beauty—a little contrast makes your product lively.”
Goodjob currently exports its products to Europe and across Asia, and last year signed an Australian distributor.
By Ruth Cooper
