POYA

DESIGNING THE EVERYDAY

What we wear can say more about us than we might think. The colors we choose, patterns that catch our eye, or the way we mix and match different pieces can reveal something about who we are at first glance. For Poy- Amornratt Chonlaworn, getting dressed has been a source of fun since childhood, before that interest gradually led her into the world of design.

Poy did not study fashion design from the beginning. After graduating and working in marketing for more than a decade, she began studying fashion design and garment construction at Bunka alongside her work, the renowned Japanese fashion school’s Thailand branch. Her love of fashion and desire to find clothes that met all her expectations—from fabric quality and patterns to the right fit and cutting—eventually grew into a desire to create clothes she would want to wear herself. This became the starting point of POYA.

WEARABLE ART & EVERYDAY ELEGANCE

“Fashion is not about trends that come and go, but the Art of Presence the art of expressing who we are.”

In Poy’s view, fashion is another way of expressing the identity of the wearer – and, most importantly, it should be fun. Clothes should leave room to play with colour, patterns, and combinations in a way that feels personal. This idea has become part of POYA’s character through its Wearable Art concept: treating clothing as pieces of art that can be worn in everyday life, expressed through distinctive colours and patterns while remaining practical for daily wear.

What makes the work interesting is not only the clothes themselves, but the way Poy observes the world around her and turns what she sees into design. Her inspiration extends beyond fashion, coming from travel, places, architecture, art, and even flowers and leaves encountered along the way.

There is no fixed starting point for each collection. Some begin with a fabric pattern that catches her eye and sparks an idea. Others start with a concept, followed by a search for the right materials. Sometimes an idea simply comes from something she encounters while travelling. From there, she gradually translates it through colour, patterns, prints, and cutting.

By the time a piece becomes a finished garment, it has gone through plenty of trial and adjustment—from developing prototypes and trying them on to refining the details and testing them again until everything feels right. When asked which part she enjoys most, Poy points to the beginning: the moment when she can play with concepts and ideas before gradually turning them into something tangible.

Beauty, however, is not the only measure of good design. Clothing also needs to work in real life, especially for women who work and love to travel. It should be versatile, travel-friendly, comfortable, easy to wear for different occasions, and adaptable to more than one look. POYA focuses on 100% natural fibres, including premium linen and cotton, chosen for their breathability and comfort. At the same time, small details give each piece its own character— from handcrafted piping along the edges and shirt cuffs, to button details and collars designed with two overlapping layers. They may not stand out at first, but look closer and something more begins to emerge.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

These details do not come together in one attempt. Her process is about trying, adjusting, and trying again. Loving what you do may be a good place to start, but moving forward also means continuing to learn, staying open to new ideas, and practising along the way. She also finds inspiration in people who have succeeded before her, using what she learns from them as motivation to keep developing her own work.

If POYA were a work of art, what would it be? Poy imagines something that feel both chic and unique—feminine and masculine at once. Rather than separating the two, she sees them as elements that can come together to create something new. Much like a collection that pairs stripes with polka dots: two elements that might seem difficult to combine, yet somehow find their own balance when placed together.