From Tech in LA to Fashion in Bangkok: My Journey to a New Life

Growing up in Bangkok, it was always in the plan for me to attend boarding school, following the footsteps of my parents. They envisioned me gaining experiences outside Thailand and nurturing independence.

At 13, I embarked on my boarding school journey on Vancouver Island, Canada, but I didn't take to it easily. The overwhelming homesickness led to frequent tearful calls back home, and adjusting to Canadian habits, like using cutlery for rice, seemed absurd to me.

However, things took a positive turn during my latter years at school when I found a great roommate. Life gradually became better—I discovered a sense of community, took up basketball, and worked through accepting my situation.

College choices came with a preference for warmer climates to escape the cold, which led me to UC San Diego to study social psychology.

Despite graduating, returning to Thailand didn’t seem right. I was encouraged by my parents to pursue life abroad, an idea I had embraced deeply.

The Allure of UX Design in California

My career began in San Diego as an SEO analyst, but the monotony soon led me to discover User Experience (UX) design. This newfound interest had me immediately hooked.

I left my initial job to immerse myself in an online course, resulting in my first UX designer job at Goji Labs in LA, a small but energetic digital agency focusing on apps and websites. With only a 10-member team, I dived deep into crafting multiple design projects as the dedicated designer.

With time, my responsibilities evolved, and I took on a project management role, helping to form the design department from the ground up. After three years, though, I grew weary of the tech scene.

Everything seemed tied to the digital realm, and the belief, particularly in California, that apps could address even social issues like homelessness didn't resonate with me. I realized that culture wasn’t where I wanted to invest my energy anymore.

A Creative Reawakening in Bangkok

There was always a vision of returning to Bangkok to establish my enterprise. Realizing the dissatisfaction in my worklife, and being unanchored by personal ties or commitments, I made the move.

A six-month hiatus in Bangkok allowed me to recalibrate and make future plans. I desired something substantial and considered starting a fashion sportswear line. However, the prospect of immediate revenue from retail catalyzed my decision to open a men's multi-brand shop, Fewer Better Things.

The Bangkok market lacked a median between high-end designer labels and low-cost mass brands, which was the niche I aimed to fill.

My shop showcases modern menswear, home accessories, furniture, and art, drawing a collective aesthetic with items sourced globally from places like India, Germany, the UK, Japan, Korea, and local Thai creators.

Deliberately lacking an online store, my intent is for customers to experience the tangible allure of the pieces firsthand. I invested 4.5 million baht, roughly equating to $140,000, covering renovations, operations, one employee’s salary, and the first year’s inventory.

Interacting with customers about design and style remains the highlight of my workday. The creative vibe in Bangkok is vibrant and engaging, contrasting sharply with the all-consuming hustle culture prevalent in the US.

Accumulating wealth abroad holds little attraction for me now. The focus has shifted towards crafting meaningful projects and aiding others. Should I launch my brand, it will be rooted in Thailand, crafted by local artisans to bolster the local economy.