Our friends from CONVERSE invited us to Bangkok for the exclusive preview of their Spring / Summer 2014 collection. We began our first night with a journey across the river to make our way into the converse party. Riverside bars lined the street, will it be in one these?
Then the path opened up to a row of warehouses. We were ushered into one, and behold, bars stocked with beer, a crowd gathering, colors everywhere that it hits you right smack in the face with it. So I guess this will dictate the course of this whole trip.
A few minutes went by and a band comes up on stage. We were just in the nick of time. MC introduced the band as The Jukks, and they began their set. Punk, rock, alternative. A few covers mixed in with original music. They kicked off the party with a bang and ended their set by smashing guitars on to the concrete floor.
Bangkok is a different world altogether. The energy good, the scene alive, and thriving. If this was the beginning, then I can’t wait to see what’s in store next.
Day 2 began with lunch at viva aviv by the river. First thing I noticed was the music. Incredible hip-hop / soul / electro was playing over the speakers. I thought to myself, “they have damn good taste”, and with a tinge of jealousy, I tried to mentally jot down each and every song on the playlist. Then we were ushered to the boat again for a skip across the river. I noticed though that once we stood up from our tables, a server immediately changed the music to some tacky river cruise type of music. Then it dawned on me. Every single f*#king thing that we experience on this trip is most likely curated. Props converse, props to you.
We weaved our way through street shops and lean tos, until we arrived at a small door with a sign that says “THE [SPACE] BANGKOK”. Then up paint dripped colored stairs and onto a landing and into a gallery space. This is the venue for the exclusive preview of their Spring Summer 2014 collection.
Jason Lam, CONVERSE Asia Pacific marketing manager, started us off with a short introduction on the theme for the preview and the collection. “Unleashing the creative spirit” and how they translated it all throughout the CONVERSE lines: CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR, JACK PURCELL, and CONS.
Then Scott, one of the founders of THE SPACE BANGKOK, talked about their collaboration with CONVERSE for the preview and how attention and support from international brands sustain the creative community.
Thus began the preview.
Core collection, CHUCK TAYLOR. Models from the archives: CONVERSE 70 and a couple of camouflage and zebra print models.
Of course, CHUCK TAYLORS for the women.
Design and colorway derivatives of the CHUCK TAYLOR model.
JACK PURCELL. A translation of everyday essentials and self curation. Premiums and classics.
These pairs churn out notes and music effects when you press down on them.
Then the CONS line. Not just about skateboarding but more about street culture and how CONVERSE relates to the community. CONVERSE took portraits of street culture influencers from around Asia Pacific and presented them with their CONS line.
Paint ball guns and slingshots to paint up the sneaker wall and canvases.
The food spread was also curated by one of the founders of THE SPACE BANGKOK. All local and natural delicacies and drinks that interpreted the CONVERSE colors theme.
It was a short and very informative trip. CONVERSE gave us an exclusive sneak peek not only on what to look forward to for 2014, but as to how their minds work and how they see our markets. Good experience. Amazing curation and execution by Jason Lam and the CONVERSE Asia Pacific team. Thank you. Thank you as well to Eli Bonsol, Marketing Manager for CONVERSE Philippines, for taking care of us.
Great things are a coming for Asia Pacific 2014. Don’t blink.
– Kevin Cabanban
