If you’ve visited Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, it’s likely Chatuchak Weekend Market—perhaps the most popular market in the city—was one of your pitstops. Amidst the more than 15,000 stalls, north of 11,000 vendors and approximately 27 sections or so, stands a stall worth visiting the next time you’re there.

La Rocca Studio is located at section 5, soi 55/2, no. 155 in the market. Taking an approach that’s the antithesis of fast fashion, owner Rungrot Ni Changkrachang designs all his apparel with sustainability in mind, and a personal touch. Though none are bespoke, they each have that quality about them, in that no two are ever the same.

“If you look closely, you’ll see that each item is unique…[out of] 100 shirts, each of those 100 shirts will be different,” says the husband and father of three.

Though a skilled fashion designer, Rungrot’s journey to becoming one is unorthodox. “I didn’t study fashion. My interest began when I started selling second-hand clothes. Over time, it evolved into a desire to learn and explore new things,” he says.

After 15 years of selling second-hand clothes, Rungrot’s insatiable desire to continually learn and upskill saw him working with “Japanese folks” who taught him about “garment sewing for the Japanese market.” This ignited a fire in him that eventually led to the birth of his own brand—La Rocca Studio.

Therein lies a range of apparel that spans shirts, pants, shorts, bags, and even shoes. With worldwide shipping available, there’s no barrier to entry to getting your hands on one of their products crafted with meticulous care. A craftsmanship process that is a welcome challenge for Rungrot and those who work in La Rocca Studio’s production department.

He says, “The most challenging part is starting and planning each piece to meet our specific vision as closely as possible. However, [overall] our workflow isn’t very complex because the focus is more on the materials rather than on intricate designs.”

The pre-production phase, which Rungrot deems the “most crucial step,” involves him and his team sourcing the perfect materials. For the owner of the sustainable fashion brand, this is the studio’s strength—its ability to use leftovers as efficiently as possible, giving new life to raw materials.

Old clothes, jackets, pants, bags, or anything that can be repurposed into apparel are used to turn shirts into bags, bags into pants, and pants into shirts.

“Our main raw materials are leftovers. Plenty of these materials are available, but finding the ones that meet our standards and can be used effectively is challenging,” says Rungrot. Once this key phase is over, he proceeds to the “cutting and sewing” process.

At this stage, Rungrot decides which product each selected material will be used for and its appropriate placement. The materials will be sent to the production department, where each item is produced individually.

Talk about tailor-made.

Here, the production crew ensures the initial specifications laid out by Rungrot are met, making them a “vital department” according to the owner of La Rocca Studio. Perfect execution is expected, and a spirit of excellence is the driving force; something that can be seen and felt in the quality of this fashion house’s apparel.

When asked if he takes requests for bespoke pieces, Rungrot quips, “We aim to change the customer’s mindset, not the other way around.”

He says that as part of his work, he hopes to influence people’s choices to choose sustainable apparel without compromising fashion. “Every product that goes through our creative process reflects our best for our customers.”

When not busy sourcing materials and providing creative input, Rungrot is part of the organizing committee for the vintage flea market “From Rags To Display”. This market brings together brands from across Asia, including Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Here, fashion is paired with live music and street food for an experience not to be missed.

He tells us they anticipate organizing another chapter, possibly by the year’s end.

For such a busy man, it’s paramount for him that he always makes time for the ones he loves. With two sons and an “adorable daughter” in tow, he does what he does best for them. He says his daughter is a steady source of inspiration for his work thanks to her charming personality.

“As someone who enjoys dressing up, I find joy in styling her outfits as my daughter grows. We have accumulated a collection of vintage clothes for her, and I aim to convey that dressing up children is equally important. Parents should pay attention to their children and not overlook the small details.”

For someone who began his journey in the fashion industry by selling second-hand clothes, Rungrot has come a long way to become the renowned fashion designer he is today.

To aspiring designers, he has this to say: “Believe in yourself, and don’t underestimate yourself. Less talk, more action.”

Images via @larocca_studio and @fromragstodisplay

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