Days of the Raj Revisited

As a celebrated graduate of London’s Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design, Disaya Sorakraikitikul has always held her favourite city and its British culture close to her heart.

This influence has been a constant subtext throughout her collections, that are full of distinctive eccentricity, much like Britain itself.

First presented internationally in Spring/Summer 2007, Disaya immediately caught the attention of both local and international audiences with sleek silhouettes and quirky prints. Her whimsical jewellery followed shortly after and became a natural complement to the ready-to-wear lines.

From her first Bangkok flagship store at Gaysorn Mall in the city’s prestigious Rajdamri Avenue, Disaya’s collections are now sold worldwide and appeal to a diverse range of women, from confident and spirited girls to sophisticated socialites.

Another London influence came into play during the early years of Disaya’s career, when Amy Winehouse’s stylist spotted her designs and requested the loan of a dress for the superstar singer’s Back to Black album photoshoot.

It was a unique pairing of two iconic styles and a taste of things to come - since then, Disaya’s lavish and one-of-a-kind creations have been paraded on red carpets by a string of celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Osbourne, Paris Hilton, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

For her new Spring/Summer 2018 collection, Disaya has been inspired to romantically harmonise the luxurious style of the British Victorian era with rich Indian culture, creating imagery of of the Days of the Raj in the South Asian subcontinent during the 19th century.

There’s much to delve into in this fascinating journey across distinct cultures and influences.

An asymmetrical mid-length skirt looks remarkable with a tropical embroidered pineapple, royal palm, and parrot. A silhouette of ruffle dresses is patched with lace and crystals into feminine style. Palazzo pants with a Himalayan poppy off-shoulder shirt, make a flattering choice for the summer. Delicate techniques, such as sequin embroidery and threedimensional appliqués, are used to create lace gowns that are stunning in various textures.

Athleisure is something new for the collection, combined an elastic cuff and collar details with long-sleeve dresses and oversize jackets. In keeping with that sentiment, Disaya has imbued her collection with a romantic colour palette, blush rosette, liquid sky and white dresses, printed with vivid flowers and Indian pattern forms that match Summer colour tones with red, yellow and misty jades for a youthful spirit throughout this season.

To see some more from Disaya browse: disaya.com