Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

Submitted by Melissa Hung on December 7, 2008 - 10:04pm

Fashion

Thakoon, who moved to Omaha, NE from Thailand when he was 11, is known for his playful prints and sporty, youthful designs. Taught to sew by his grandmother, he was a fashion writer first before deciding to try designing himself and going to Parsons School of Design. With a CFDA award under his belt (that's Council of Fashion Designers of America), and a shout-out as one of America's up-and-coming designers in Vanity Fair's September issue (the magazine featured six Asian Americans in that story), he's already been a fashion darling for a while. But the Target collection will probably help make him more of a household name for those of us who don't do our shopping at Barney's and Bergdorf Goodman.

I have to admit that Target has put a lot of designers on my radar, including a few Asian Americans. Past Asian Americans designers who have collaborated with Target include another designer featured in that Vanity Fair story, Richard Chai, and handbag designers Joy Gryson and Rafe Totengco. Richard Chai's collection came out over the summer and has been by far one of my favorites from the GO International line. What can I say? The man got me to wear loud prints that I normally wouldn't touch because the cuts were well-constructed and surprisingly flattering.

Anyhoo, here's a short video of Thakoon talking about his collection. The GO International collections have been kind of hit or miss quality-wise, so I hope this one is well-made. I'm also hoping there's a Phillip Lim for Target line somewhere in the works.

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rachel wrote 3 years 22 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

doensn't look very wintery. what's up with stores putting out swimsuits in december?

boo wrote 3 years 22 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

it's like putting up christmas lights before thanksgiving even came! ridiculous. but hey, the purple/blue dress on the left is pretty cute. so is thakoon himself.

melissa wrote 3 years 22 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

Agreed and agreed. (on retail timing and on Thakoon's cuteness). I'd be interested in hearing from someone who works in retail about WHY it seems like a good idea to put swimwear out in December, in the midst of holiday weight gains. Is it to make us feel bad? It wasn't always like this. It's getting kind of ridiculous.

boo wrote 3 years 22 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

melissa you should send an email to metrodad and see if he has the answer, seeing that he's in the fashion industry. he can even tell you what colors are going to be in next season.

melissa wrote 3 years 22 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

Excellent idea. Will do.

melissa wrote 3 years 22 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

Alright! Metrodad has the answers to our pressing questions about why swim wear is sold in winter. (Thanks Metrodad!) Here's what he says:(1) Before Wal-Mart, JC Penney, Target, and Kohls came around, most women traditionally bought their bathing suits at department stores. Back then, you needed a bathing suit in winter because it was assumed that you were going to go away somewhere warm during the winter months. In fact, the entire "resort season" used to be a major section for department stores. They'd all start selling bathing suits in December and wouldn’t stop selling them until Memorial Day.(2) Most of the major department stores were founded on the east coast and expanded westward. However, the stores rarely changed the assortment based on a regional basis. Therefore, every store in an entire chain would traditionally put the bathing suits out on the floor in the winter.(3) These days, practically every major chain carefully analyzes floor space. The departments change seasonally. Almost every chain (from Bergdorf to Wal-Mart) has figured out that the best way to share retail floor space is to have a section of the store that alternates between selling outerwear and swimwear. The outerwear is usually sold from August to December. Swimwear is usually sold from December to July. In fact, many stores have a single buyer who specializes in selling both outerwear and swimwear.(4) It's difficult for the retailers to manage this. Naturally, in California, nobody really needs any outerwear in the middle of August. So they'll often try to mix up the merchandise during those traditional months. However, it really all comes down to floor space. It's a constant struggle for the retailers because these two departments are so weather-dependent. For example, when winter comes late to the east coast (like it did last year,) retailers have huge problems. If people don't need a coat until January, they'll go to the store. However, the store will have had those coats on the floor since August. Certainly, by January, those coats are all marked down (thereby reducing the profit margins for the stores.)That's why I always tell people to never go into the retail business. It's one big headache after the other.

Ann Rushing wrote 3 years 13 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

I went to Target on line and am looking for the thakkon tie fron skirt. I do not see it anywhere on the webiste. Is it possible it isnot on the webiste. I may call toaday to see if it is the local store in Marion, Il. If not, with your acess to what stores have what could you please help me find a traget store with such a cute skirt. I would be very grateful.sincerely, Ann Rushing

Melissa wrote 3 years 13 weeks ago

re: Thakoon Designs Clothing Collection for Target

Ann, I believe the store you are looking for is called ebay. You snooze, you lose. Sorry.

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