Weekend Picks

Hathaithip "Maam" Playbou, 37, loves cute teddy bears, while her husband Jaraschai "Boy" Sengnark, 39, is crazy about Japanese manga and toys. They combine their different passions into innovative T-shirts under the brand Boy T-shirt at Siam Square.

After closing down his imported toy business five years ago, they decided to renovate their store to introduce a new line of white cotton-based T-shirts for teenage shoppers. Their shirts feature about 50 graphic Japanese-style teddy bear cartoons or English messages.

"My husband loves Japan. He collects plenty of Japanese collectibles like action figures, magazines and comic books, while I like teddy bears, so we used Japanese cosplay characters to portray teddy bears in a Japanese style," says Hathaithip. "Our products are ordered by many retailers from Hong Kong and Singapore".

The T-shirt collections are inspired by Japanese culture such as the Mee Daruma character, which combines a teddy bear with a Japanese amulet named Daruma; a black teddy, Mee Jr, dressed in Japanese student uniforms, and Astro Boy.

Some teddy bears on T-shirts are inspired by popular films. For example "Mee Kill Bill" depicts a teddy bear in a yellow track suit, while a T-shirt with a teddy bear in a red scotch uniform is inspired by the famous Japanese manga and film, "Nana". The designers also play with words from the flick. For Mee Kill Bill, the word reads "Kill All Humans".

There is also a line of monster designs such as a blue fiend Virus Boyt and a fierce black squid Telepus on offer. Shoppers can find an innovative array of T-shirts featuring various messages including "I'm looking for Thai boyfriend" and "I'm looking for Thai girlfriend", "You are very important" and "It all about me".

"I closed a toy store because I wanted to design products of my own. Instead of fashionable body-tight T-shirts, we offer original and simple shirts. Our shirts are classic in style and come in white only. Most designs are influenced by my life. I think that my career is like that of a novelist and a composer who reflects experiences through their works," says Jaraschai.

Boy T-shirts come in sizes M, L and XL. Prices are Bt190 to Bt220.

Boy T-shirts will showcase their collections on the stage in the "Street Fashion" event at Siam Square on July 28 to 29.

Mee Nana and Mee Kill Bill

A yellow teddy bear with a samurai sword inspired by the Hollywood "Kill Bill" films and a red one from the Japanese film 'Nana'.

Teddy bear set

These teddies come in different patterns including a brown teddy postman (Mee Post), a dark brown teddy maidservant (Mee Maid) and smart teddy rider with a black motorcycle (Mee Bike).

Mee JR

With a design inspired by a Tokyo railway line, this shirt features a black teddy bear with a Japanese student uniform.

A pair of  T-shirts

If you are still single, this is a T-shirt for you. A couple of white T-shirts comes with the message "I'm looking for a Thai boyfriend" or "I'm looking for a Thai girlfriend".

Mee Did

A white T-shirt featuring a newspaper teddy and a message "Did You Know Me".

Panda set

Cute pandas on shirts with various messages. The Panda Love shirt features the message 'You are very important' and the weightlifting Panda has the message 'Remember! There's only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people'.

Pattarawadee Saengmanee