Top Christmas Gifts for Women

"My name is Dararat Chantapireepun. I was born in Bangkok in 1962. When I was 12 years old, my family moved to Chiang Mai where my parents had an auto repair shop. After graduation, I worked with a financial company for two years.

"One day, my older sister opened a fabric shop in Bangkok and persuaded me to work with her. I immediately said yes. I've loved to dress up ever since I can remember. I love to wear beautiful clothes and flare skirts. I would even take my mother's high heels to walk back and forth like a model on the catwalk. Even while wearing pajamas, I would tuck my shirt inside my pants since I thought it looked more stylish.

"I didn't hesitate to work with my sister even though I didn't know anything about the fashion industry. I believe that when people do what they love, they will try their best to learn and pay attention. I learned everything from my sister — from selecting fabric to designing patterns and speaking with customers. Since I took care of many things in the shop, I couldn't sew well. I knew a bit about sewing, so I was able to learn.

"I worked with my sister for about four years. When she saw I could handle the responsibility for everything at the shop, she decided to leave it in my hands so she could focus on creating apparel. At the time I was about 26 and was proud to have my own shop.

"In 1996, Thailand went through an economic crisis and not many people were interested in buying clothes. I felt discouraged but my workers and family were still with me. They encourage me and told me to never give up. I kept going patiently and, when we finally got through that difficult period, I kept designing different types of apparel like work clothes, casual wear and trendy fashion. I enjoy designing.

"Lace distinguishes my designs. I feel that lace is modern, sweet and beautiful. It goes well with different kinds of apparel and can be worn for different occasions. I am always thrilled to work with new fabric and I can't stop creating new designs."