Ratha Minimarket: Canvas Bags Made with Style
“Building consistency in what you do is an important component to running a business.”
Tucked inside of Bangkoks JJ Market (Chatuchuk Weekend Market) sisters, Pare and Chom Komolvanich created Ratha Minimarket Handmade in 2012. These canvas based westernized, modern and functional designs can be found on big totes, shoulder bags, crossbody to little coin pouches! Fun fact these designs are hand drawn and they are all one of a kind!
With all the no-plastic and reduce waste motto going on these days as consumers, we have now become owners of lots of reusable tote bags. If you are one who also loves canvas made bags with great designs we want to introduce you to Pare and Chom Komolvanich sisters from Thailand who own Ratha Minimarket. I first discovered Rathaminimarket Handmade at the famous JJ Market (Chatuchak Weekend Market) in Bangkok. I fell in love with the westernized, modern and functional designs of Pare and Chom’s bags, from big totes, shoulder bags, crossbody to little coin poaches these ladies make them all. Fun fact a lot of the designs are hand drawn and they are all one of a kind!
Born and raised in Ayutthaya where the Komolvanich runs a bed and breakfast Slip Pa Ayutthaya just an hour drive outside of Bangkogk. Both Pare and Chom received their art degree from the Decorative and Fine Art department in Thailand and shortly after created Ratha Minimarket Handmade in 2012.
At an early age Pare recalls how she was obsessed with any products made out of canvas. When she was little she always imagined how she would one day create her own version of canvas made goods. Ideas are easy to come up with but executing them is the hard part she says. Thankfully, her sister, Chom is a talented designer who can execute Pare’s ideas and make them come to life!
“We started playing around with my ideas and her designs and it took us almost 1 year to develop a consistency of our brand and get along with our clients. Throughout this process I learned that building consistency in what you do is an important component to running a business. Our clients come from all over the world, primarily foreigners buy our products, they are amazing and warm hearted individuals who love handmade goods.”
Even though canvas seems to be a simple material to use, design with and replicate the sisters recognize that counterfeit is something that is a hard battle to fight. It is not uncommon for them to find that others are copying their designs but they choose to ignore it and focus on their designs and brand instead. They give credit to their partners, clients and those who walk by their stall in the market and write reviews as their mentors when it comes to learning and continuing to grow and create better designs and build better products! Their inspiration for their Ratha Minimarket comes from appreciating fine arts and their travel experiences.
Just like the rest of the world Covid did affect them to a certain extent in which when the country was on lockdown they had to pivot their direction and focus on building their social platform. This was something they had been delaying in doing before Covid and now they had more time to put it together which has also helped them gain more followers! The Komolvanich sisters hope that in this new decade once Covid has blown over they can open a shop in neighboring countries. To shop for these one of kind canvas bags check out their IG page or DM Pare, LINE (@PareKomolvanich) or email them!
First published on November 2, 2020
