Where Do The Cool Guys Shop in Bangkok Now?

A feast of style

Bangkok has long been a shopper’s paradise. Accessible if you know where to look, the retail scene in Thailand’s capital city comes across as a banquet with different flavors – specialty shops, secondhand vintage, and international multi-brand retailers – that are each worth a taste. 

And with their government’s emphasis on ‘soft power’ (think South Korea and the hallyu wave), Thailand has established itself as a rising cultural powerhouse not just in Southeast Asia, but also within the international community. 

Over 5 billion baht (approximately $150 million) has been invested in focus areas like tourism, music, and gaming, with fashion getting a share of over 268 million baht (around $8 million). The result? An even more exciting adventure for the avid shopper. 

Here’s a rundown of cool shops and complexes to visit on your next trip to Bangkok.

For your main course, try local flavors

Once a cinema multiplex, Lido Connect is now a retail venue housing various homegrown brands, many of whom have pledged allegiance to a certain aesthetic. Unfound Projects is a must-visit for those who want to take a peek at local streetwear. 

Besides carrying international brands like Pleasures and Brain Dead, Unfound Projects carries a wide portfolio of niche streetwear brands whose products include tees, headwear, and accessories. Make sure to peruse their collection of zines sourced from around the world.

Beyond staples and accessories, head on over to Loft Eyes, which carries unisex designs from local Thai designers. Look out for pieces from Etiq and Made To Mature.

Sustainability and circular fashion remain a huge advocacy for Thai brands. Among home goods and personal care products, visit All Kinds in The Commons Thonglor for fashion brands that not only push for circular fashion but also feature interesting silhouettes in their own right. Try out the balloon pants from tISI, whose production heavily involves working with local artisans and fabrics, as well as hand-stitched light outerwear from Arthur and Ackhman.

Thailand’s fashion industry is thriving, to say the least. Aiming to expand beyond the country, the Thai government has made efforts to export its fashion designers, including a group show in the US launched earlier in the year.

In Bangkok, it could be said that the conditions for fostering local brands to thrive is just right; local brands offer distinct visions and, more importantly, have sustained their business long enough to keep a foothold in their respective markets.

Going for seconds? Go for secondhand vintage

Like its neighbors, Thailand is home to a booming secondhand market. Many tourists and locals flock to Chatuchak Weekend Market, scouring its long, narrow corridors for good eats and niche homegrown beauty and fashion brands. 

And while it’s always worth a day trip, make sure to spend a couple of hours across the street at Bangsue Junction, a six-story complex with floors dedicated to vintage furniture, food, and curated vintage separated by category. Stalls dedicated to Americana, workwear, and even made-to-order suits boast a compelling collection that’s worth visiting. 

For something more specialized, Thailand has its own must-visits: Wooden Submarine is worth rummaging just for the sheer amount of interesting American vintage it has cultivated since its inception. Meanwhile, Horse Unit features a masterful edit of military garb from around the globe.

Sate your sartorial appetite at the mall

Yes, there’s a case to be made for the capital city’s overwhelmingly extensive network of malls. Bangkok’s train line is dotted by its large shopping complexes directly connected to a specific station, so inevitably, you will come across one.

Club21, a multi-brand retailer originally from Singapore, can be your fix when finding recent collections of Acne Studios, COMME des GARÇONS, and JW Anderson. 

For sneakers and streetwear-adjacent international brands, visit Carnival, which carries coveted collaborations from your favorite brands, as well as their own private label.

When going soft actually hits hard

For Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, soft power is their key to driving their economic success. “Soft power is not just about economic potential,” she said in a speech earlier this year. “It is about people. It is about empowering individuals with the tools, skills and knowledge to turn creativity into economic opportunity.”

The result has been palpable, to say the least—and this goes beyond Thailand’s booming retail scene.

In Bangkok, restaurants big and small are adorned with the Michelin Guide stamp of approval on their windows and can be easily found around major thoroughfares in its districts. 

Beauty products, another growing industry for Thailand, are readily available through multi-brand stores like Sephora and Watsons, but also in specialty stores that only sell local products to tourists who flock in droves after seeing their favorite Thai celebrity wear it. 

And speaking of celebrities, Apo Nattawin, Mile Phakphum, Jeff Satur, and other Thai superstars have been sitting front row in Paris Fashion Week – and that’s not about to change anytime soon. 

Suffice to say, Thailand’s becoming more than just a shopper’s dream—it’s well on its way to becoming a global cultural powerhouse.

Photography Lex Celera (for Unfound Projects and Bangsue Junction)