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Ruen Thai literally means Thai house and inside this attractive
store, visitors to Phuket can find all the treasures of the Kingdom.
Actually, there are three Ruen Thai boutiques on Phuket. The first
shop was opened five years ago at Canal Village in the Laguna Phuket
complex by Khun Arkom Cheungthong who worked at the Amanpuri Resort
as the financial controller.
"There are many different markets on the island and I chose
to supply authentic handicrafts from around Southeast Asia to my
customers who want quality and superior craftsmanship," explains
Khun Arkom. "I have worked around the international visitor
market at the Dusit Thani and Le Meridien President in Bangkok and
can choose household items and clothing which appeals to this group."
Ruen Thai has a diverse collection of mudmee silk sarongs and clothing.
This variety of silk has the difficult ikat pattern and is produced
in Thailand's northeast. Once a fading handicraft, mudmee silk has
been revived by the efforts of Queen Sirikit and merchants like
Khun Arkom.
He has also collected cotton clothing, blankets and table settings
made from high quality cotton from Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai. This
complements the stainless steel cutlery produced in the former royal
capital of Chiang Mai and is used in better restaurants around the
island.
Khun Arkom travels around Thailand carefully selecting items
for his three boutiques that experience has taught him will
please his customers. Among his choices are nearly pure silver
necklaces and jewelry from Nakorn Sri Thammarat, a new line
of clothing made from hemp, wooden picture frames with pewter
inlays of local animals, mosquito nets that can be carried
on eco-tours to protect against dengue, the triangular Thai
pillow that unfolds into a comfortable resting surface from
Nakorn Panom, traditional Thai paintings that give any room
an ethnic feel as well as various decorative items from Bali.
I decided to expand my business to accommodate the growing number
of international visitors to Phuket. I have a boutique at Surin
Beach just outside the turn to the Chedi and Amanpuri Resorts as
well as a new boutique in Phuket Town on Phang Nga Road.
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