Rare Haute Couture Treasure Trove Surfaces in Bangkok: Glamma Vintage
With an underlying focus on sustainability and art appreciation.
Tucked away in Bangkok‘s Rama 4 district lies, from the exterior, an unassuming store by the name of Glamma Vintage — if it weren’t for the location’s red lettering on the building, you might just drive by it. However, this aura of exclusivity and understatement is exactly what this new haute couture store is looking to embody.
Notably, Glamma doesn’t view itself as a business with the sole goal of turning a profit on its rare items but rather, as a showroom for the underlying art that is interwoven in the DNA of haute couture and as a voice for the further adoption of sustainability in fashion. At the time of writing, the showroom is only available to visit by appointment, to learn more about it and its approach to the market, we met with its owner Golf Svattananon.
Explaining the inception of Glamma, Svattananon shared that the concept all stemmed from his love for art just over seven years ago, stating “I think art and fashion go hand in hand.” When observing several estate sales he noticed that while artworks owned by the rich and famous were going for high premiums, their wardrobes were often overlooked and affordable in comparison.
Beyond collecting for the sake of art or future profit, Svattananon identified another underlying motivation in the form of championing sustainability. Identifying global warming as one of the most significant topics of this decade, he shared “Everyone is aware that we need to do something about sustainability and fashion is the second most polluted industry just behind fossil fuels, so I thought it would be a beautiful idea to try through auctions to bring in important pieces in terms of design.”
“I think art and fashion go hand in hand.”
In addition to haute couture garments from some of the top brands like Dior, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and many more, Glamma is also focused on curating and showcasing a variety of other items. These include various collectibles, accessories, bags, shoes, hats, material sample books, archival artifacts and much more.
While many of the items in the showroom are for sale, Svattananon explained that some of these pieces belong in a museum and that he hopes they will find themselves in the right hands, either acting as some sort of inspiration to the viewer or being a subject of study. He further explained that a few garments come straight from the runway and that, unlike ready-to-wear items, these haute couture pieces can require up to a month to construct and a “village” of 12 or more people to complete.
He further explained that he hopes the showroom will act as a sort of time machine, sharing that they have gathered a significant amount of fabric samples, often the same used for the dresses being displayed in the shop, allowing visitors to see not only the final form of an idea but the inception and creative process behind it — providing a fun experience, whether or not the visitor takes something tangible home.
Speaking humbly, Svattananon shared that should Glamma find success, he hopes to see it expand to a second, larger location, where he and his team can curate more pointed shows, utilizing what is a substantial archive of garments, as well as accessories dating from as far back as the 1920s to the early 2000s. To schedule a visit for yourself, Svattananon shared that all interested parties need to do is send a direct message to the showroom’s Instagram page.
