Cultural Happenings
Disney Run Bangkok 2026 Brings Magical 5K Fun To Rama VIII This July
Disney Run Bangkok 2026 is set to take place on 19 July ...
A nostalgic look into Mollika “Kam” Ruangkritya’s journey building Kloset into Thailand’s cult fashion and lifestyle brand.
Getting to know the person behind a brand is meaningful, as it reveals the vision and creative direction in a more personal way and shows how their ideas and visual language translate into the pieces people interact with and use every day.
This Friday Future Lister edition brings back a strong sense of childhood nostalgia. I still remember my mum buying me a Kloset pencil case covered in colourful, artsy prints about a decade ago. Back then, those flowery, whimsical patterns were everywhere, especially among young girls, appearing on everything from bags to clothing.
That same sense of nostalgia and expression leads naturally into the world of Mollika “Kam” Ruangkritya, the creative force behind Kloset. Her work turns cultural inspiration into wearable stories and creates a brand language that feels both familiar and modern.
How Kam Built Kloset From Scratch
Kam’s connection with fashion started at a young age. Even though she studied politics and finance, creativity had always been part of her world. She loved altering old clothes, making things by hand and expressing herself through style long before fashion became a career path.
While studying abroad, her perspective expanded through exposure to different styles and aesthetics. Surrounded by new ideas, she realised the kind of fashion she personally connected with did not yet exist in the way she imagined. That thought later became the starting point of Kloset.
After graduating, Kam spent some time helping with the family business, but realised it was not the path she wanted. When her sister returned from abroad, the two started Kloset in a small space in Siam Square in 2001, managing everything themselves. Kam sourced fabrics and met with pattern makers while her sister looked after the shop.
Without formal training in design, Kam relied on instinct and passion, spending hours studying garments, fabrics and clothing details through observation alone. That curiosity later shaped Kloset into a brand recognised for femininity, nostalgia, culture and modern expression. The brand grew step by step from a small office with only a handful of staff. Kam handled almost everything herself, from accounting and design to production, stock and even trips to the bank.
Inside Kloset’s Signature Identity
In the early years, she saw an opportunity within Thailand’s ready-to-wear fashion market to create something with a stronger identity and a clearer point of view. Kloset focused on pieces that felt vintage, detailed and expressive while still remaining accessible to everyday wear.
One of the earliest challenges came from complaints that Kloset used ordinary market fabrics. That criticism pushed Kam to rethink the brand identity and understand the importance of building something distinctive. She began studying the fashion market more seriously, learning how collections worked seasonally and developing stronger concepts behind each release.
From there, Kloset slowly developed its own identity through custom prints, craftsmanship and vintage-inspired details. By its sixth year, the brand became especially recognised for its printed scarves alongside embellishments such as sequins, embroidery and gemstones that continue to shape its collections today.
How Kloset Etcetera Became a Cult Favourite
Kloset Etcetera, founded in 2010, later became an extension of Kam’s personal interests and childhood memories. The line focused on everyday items designed to feel playful, stylish and collectible, from pencil cases (yes, the one I also had) and signature print notebooks to coated fabric tote bags that quickly became must-have items among students and young office workers.
Since childhood, Kam had always loved collecting small stationery items and accessories like scented erasers, pencil cases, fabric bags, pens and notebooks. At the time, many of those cute lifestyle products could only really be found in places like Japan, which made her dream of someday creating her own versions. As she grew older, that idea stayed with her. Kloset Etcetera became one project she refused to let go of. Once the main fashion brand became more established, she finally decided to launch the new line.
Within only a year, Kloset Etcetera grew into a major success. Some products sold out so quickly that stores had to place out-of-stock signs at the front. What began as something Kam created from her own interests ended up performing far beyond expectations. More than anything, she felt happy seeing people genuinely use and connect with the products in their everyday lives.
Building a Stronger Future for Thai Fashion
As Kloset gained recognition both locally and internationally, Kam also became recognised as one of Thailand’s notable fashion designers. In 2011, she was appointed president of the Bangkok Fashion Society, where she worked to help strengthen the Thai fashion industry and encourage people to pay more attention to local brands.
She believed Thai fashion deserved the same level of appreciation at home as it received internationally and continued pushing for higher standards, stronger visibility and wider support for Thai designers through industry activities, fashion presentations and collaborations. Her efforts also helped create greater visibility for emerging Thai fashion brands and encouraged more support for local creativity within the industry.
How Kloset Stayed Relevant
Success has never been only about sales to Kam. What matters most is seeing ideas become pieces people connect with and use in everyday life. She also values watching people grow alongside the brand, from former team members building their own careers to younger designers who grew up seeing Kloset as inspiration.
Kam has always believed that Kloset should evolve alongside each generation rather than remain fixed in the past. She pays close attention to how customers dress, shop and live, then translates those shifts into the brand without losing its identity. While trends continue to change, the core of Kloset still comes through its prints, femininity and sense of playfulness. Inspiration still comes from travel, outdoor activities and everyday experiences that continue to shape the world of Kloset.
At the core of both Kloset and Kloset Etcetera is keeping the brand’s DNA clear. Even as times change, Kam believes quality, craftsmanship and detail should never be lost, even if the pieces become easier to wear and more accessible in price. Through years of staying true to its direction, the brand has continued shaping the image of the Kloset woman through femininity, individuality and timeless style. No matter how trends evolve, Kam always wants Kloset to remain part of women’s wardrobes in a way that feels personal and familiar.
