Thailand's designers reflected the increasing independence of women in their collections for spring-summer 2007.

At the just-finished Elle Fashion Week 2006, leading brands like Issue, Sretsis and Munchu played on this sense of liberation, mixing sweet dresses and skirts with masculine accessories including shirt collars, pants, and ties.

Models strutted down the catwalk with a macho and confident air. Colours were kept neutral with pastels rarely making an appearance.

"Women today are not like folded clothes [a Thai metaphor for the cultured, genteel ladies of yesterday]. We have single mothers who take care of their children and work at the same time. Many are highly paid executives in big companies.

"That clearly reflects the trend that women are getting stronger and more independent. So the clothes must adapt to their changing lifestyles," said Munchumart Numbenjapol, designer for Munchu.

She wowed guests at the showings with her rock 'n' roll collection in gold and silver.

Munchu's pants came up to the waist, with the band riding up above in a corset clinch. Short skirts were worn with long white-sleeved shirts while little jackets were combined with girlish dresses.

Sretsis mixed 1980s space-age look with a boyish attitude and nostalgic feminine charm.

Issue's ethnic dresses were worn over jacket with rolled up sleeves and tribal hats. Flowery long-sleeved shirts meshed with long chiffon skirts.

Young designer Prinya Intaratit also came up with a boyish concept, pinning artfully arranged ties to his minimalist dresses and jackets.

Another young designer, Saitarn Karncharanwong, opted for a unisex look using minimalist designs with long-sleeved white shirts and neatly cut pants.

"I want to create clothes that women can easily move in," said Saitarn.

Young girls were turned into cute, boyish Pinocchios wearing tights and flats under vivid dresses created by newcomer Vikran Sriprom.

Senada Theory, Zenithorial and Theatre also showed outfits with a decidedly nisex/masculine bent.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation