Chic designs

Browsing at Bangkok's new high-end Crystal mall, shopaholics can find vendors displaying plenty of attractive merchandise. One of the coolest stores here is Guismono, on the ground floor. It offers an innovative range of Gugu dolls, accessories and decorative items by Thai designers alongside collectible items, toys and designer products from aboard.

Designer Tonn Sirikul-

chayanont and his sister Piyanuch created the cute Gugu cotton doll for an art exhibition in Sweden. Upon returning to Bangkok in 2001, they launched a collection of Gugu dolls, T-shirts, mugs and bags under the label Guismono at Propaganda, Zen and Paragon. Around four months ago they opened a shop at The Crystal.

"Many years ago we created the Gugu doll to display in an exhibition for which our concept was making textiles more than ordinary fabric", says Tonn. "Gugu means ghost's voice in Swedish language".

The store also sells baby dolls with a removable mouths, T-shirts, tote bags, pencil cases and bottles. Its design was inspired by Gugu dolls and graphic designs in vivid shades.

"Our designs focus on function, colours and feeling. I think that we should use everything as worthily, no matter if it is plastic or fabric", says Tonn.

The store also presents collectible items, toys and decorative items from Hong Kong, Japan, China and France. On sale are telephones, clocks, I-pod speakers, wind-up toys, dolls, die-cast miniature cars and hero cartoon models. Along with a showcase of glorious products by Thai designers such as Etc's paper clips, glistering glass vases and candleholders as well as eye-catching handbags and iron-on applique motifs. Guismono has branches in Japan and Barcelona.