Thakoon
Encyclopedia
Thakoon Panichgul is a Thai
-American
fashion designer. Panichgul moved to the United States with his family when he was 11 years old, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska
. His clothing has been worn by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, who wore a floral dress by Panichgul on the evening her husband, Barack Obama, accepted the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
Panichgul attended High School at Bellevue West (Nebraska) and as a DECA member, attending the international DECA conference in 1993 in Orlando, Florida. After graduating from Boston University
in 1997 with a business degree, he moved to New York
. As a fashion writer, Panichgul developed an interest in designing, and he eventually pursued formal studies at Parsons School of Design from 2001 to 2003. In September 2004, Panichgul produced his first ready to wear collection and became recognized by fashion press, editors and stylists, and celebrities like Rachel Bilson
, Demi Moore
, Michelle Obama
, and Sarah Jessica Parker
. In 2007 he produced a fashion line for The Gap
after being singled out by Anna Wintour
of Vogue Magazine, as chronicled in the 2009 American documentary film
, The September Issue
. His designs have been described as "timelessly feminine" and "as romantic and sensual as they are modern and innovative." He produced a well-received limited-edition clothing line at Target
in early 2009.
Panichgul's collection has been described as "forward-looking, respectful of the past, and not at all vintage
. In fact, his delicate deconstructions are entirely modern, owing more to the Antwerp Six
than to Vionnet
. Though his collection might be perfect for a modern Madame de Pompadour
, it would suit an L.A. starlet just as well."
Thakoon will also be featured in the new fashion reality series, 'So You Wanna be a Designer,' put on by the Kenmore Live Studio in downtown Chicago. Thakoon will serve as a special celebrity guest on the April 7th show airing on Facebook.com/Kenmore at 6:45pm CST on the Be a Designer link.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion designer. Panichgul moved to the United States with his family when he was 11 years old, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. His clothing has been worn by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, who wore a floral dress by Panichgul on the evening her husband, Barack Obama, accepted the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
Panichgul attended High School at Bellevue West (Nebraska) and as a DECA member, attending the international DECA conference in 1993 in Orlando, Florida. After graduating from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1997 with a business degree, he moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As a fashion writer, Panichgul developed an interest in designing, and he eventually pursued formal studies at Parsons School of Design from 2001 to 2003. In September 2004, Panichgul produced his first ready to wear collection and became recognized by fashion press, editors and stylists, and celebrities like Rachel Bilson
Rachel Bilson
Rachel Sarah Bilson is an American actress. Bilson grew up in a California show business family, and made her television debut in 2003, subsequently becoming well known for playing Summer Roberts on the prime time drama series The O.C. Bilson made her film debut in the 2006 film The Last Kiss and...
, Demi Moore
Demi Moore
Demi Guynes Kutcher , known professionally as Demi Moore, is an American actress. After minor roles in film and a role in the soap opera General Hospital, Moore established her career in films such as St...
, Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
, and Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
. In 2007 he produced a fashion line for The Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
after being singled out by Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, OBE is the British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. With her trademark pageboy bob haircut and sunglasses, Wintour has become an institution throughout the fashion world, widely praised for her eye for fashion trends and her support for...
of Vogue Magazine, as chronicled in the 2009 American documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, The September Issue
The September Issue
The September Issue is a 2009 American documentary film about the behind-the-scenes drama that follows editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her staff during the production of the September 2007 issue of American Vogue magazine. The film is directed by R.J. Cutler and produced by Eliza Hindmarch and...
. His designs have been described as "timelessly feminine" and "as romantic and sensual as they are modern and innovative." He produced a well-received limited-edition clothing line at Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
in early 2009.
Panichgul's collection has been described as "forward-looking, respectful of the past, and not at all vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
. In fact, his delicate deconstructions are entirely modern, owing more to the Antwerp Six
Antwerp Six
The Antwerp Six refers to a group of influential avant garde fashion designers who graduated from Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts between 1980-1981. At the Academy they were taught by Linda Loppa. The fashion collective presented a distinct, radical vision for fashion during the 1980s that...
than to Vionnet
Madeleine Vionnet
This article is about the haute couture designer. For the fashion label, see Vionnet Madeleine Vionnet was a French fashion designer...
. Though his collection might be perfect for a modern Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
, it would suit an L.A. starlet just as well."
Thakoon will also be featured in the new fashion reality series, 'So You Wanna be a Designer,' put on by the Kenmore Live Studio in downtown Chicago. Thakoon will serve as a special celebrity guest on the April 7th show airing on Facebook.com/Kenmore at 6:45pm CST on the Be a Designer link.