Beachdaze: The only straw bag you'll need this summer

Inspired by her love for travel, Laleewan Komolsut, founded her accessories brand, BEACHDAZE, in 2017. The chic and playful straw bags, which come in a variety of styles and sizes, have all been made by local artisans in Thailand. First, the straw is grown and collected by communities living in the northeast of Thailand and then hand woven. What’s more? The wording and thread colour on each straw bag can be customized to your liking. (Each thread colour is named after a destination that Komolsut has visited and loves.) Take a look at the brand’s Instagram and you’ll see that BEACHDAZE is often carried by glamorous globetrotters from all over the world. Here, the Thai-based creative tells us about her travel essentials and a little bit more about her growing brand.

Tell us about BEACHDAZE.

BEACHDAZE is about preserving traditional Thai handcrafted cultural heritage, empowering women and supporting local female artisans. That has always been the core of our brand. We give customers the opportunity to purchase unique (personalized) handmade items while knowing they are supporting the artisans and their families. We also donate a portion of our profits to help children in Northern Thailand.

What inspired you to start the brand?

I started BEACHDAZE because I wanted to create something that can empower women to rise above poverty and find a meaningful way to give back. Meeting women artisans with incredible skills inspires me to find a sustainable way to support them. There are numerous skilled artisans in Thailand making beautiful products but usually, the designs are still old fashioned, the selling platforms are quite limited and they are being sold in small villages. This is why I decided to create a larger marketplace with no geographic limits and an e-commerce online shop that would sell unique handcrafted products at a fair price. We would love to expand the brand and have more product offerings. I would also like to open a physical store for our customers. 

What are your most popular bag styles and phrases?

Our most popular ones are still the classics in both large and small. It’s also my all-time favourite because it’s a great basic shape that can go with any outfit. We also offer ready-made phrases. We have so many holiday-related phrases: beach please, out of office, on vacay… the list goes on!

Where are your favourite places to travel to?

I love visiting small towns like Galle, Kyoto and Lisbon. They’re great for an escape. Sometimes you just want a slower pace and a break from the chaos of the big city. Small towns have a great charm to it. They don’t have as many tourists or traffic. Visiting local markets is also one of my favourite parts of my travelling. I find a lot of inspiration there.

What are your travel essentials?

A great book, a Bioeffect EGF serum (It’s all about hydration!), a Santa Maria Novella sunscreen and a statement bag. I like to travel with my BEACHDAZE Kashan Basket. It’s my go-to. It’s very functional and it can pretty much carry everything I could possibly need for the day. There’s a tiny pouch inside the bag for essentials. I can put in random things in there like hair ties, earrings and other miscellaneous stuff. I always bring a bathing suit. You never know when you might need it.

Your customers always take fabulous pictures of or with their Beachdaze bags. What makes a great Instagram photo?

We absolutely love seeing our customers’ pictures. For me, what makes a great Instagram photo is good composition and natural light. Have some go-to poses and know your angles. Be confident. A little confidence can go a long way.

Your business is quite unique. 

Tell us more about the talented female artisans that work at BEACHDAZE.

I’ve been so lucky to have met some really inspirational and amazing artisans that i’ve built a relationship with these past two years. Working with them never felt like real work, it’s so much fun. I’m amazed by the skills and hard work they bring. One of the best parts of my job is seeing the beautiful products that our artisans create. Nowadays, most of the things are mass produced, so it’s wonderful to see products that still made by hand and in small quantities. For them, this has been a part of their lives. The weaving techniques have been passed down from generation to generation. Everything is more beautiful when it’s made with the heart.

What’s a typical day for you like?

My day usually starts at around 9am. I check my emails, manage all the orders and work with an artisan team in Phayao and Chai Nat province. I’ll give them feedback on the design, colour and size. As each bag is personalized, we have to create a mock up image for customer to confirm the calligraphy before the final production. In the afternoon, I’ll also make sure that I find time to exercise (at least twice a week). Reading is also something I don’t go a day without, even if it’s just a few pages before I go to sleep. I’m happier when I’m efficient in managing my time. I’m more productive when I’ve planned out my schedule. It allows me to fully enjoy being with my family, my boyfriend or enjoying a dinner or drink with my girlfriends.

Who’s your #legend?

My forever women crushes are Lauren Santo Domingo (the co-founder of Moda Operandi) and Emily Weiss. I can’t choose between the two so I have to go with both!