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Sirimon “Mint” Boonprasit’s journey home, woven through Thai silk, memory, craftsmanship and belonging.
Have you ever felt being at a distance from home and found that feeling pulling you into something creative? It might sound strange but there is something in that emotion that turns into expression. In Thai literature, Journey to Muang Klaeng by Sunthorn Phu carries that same sense of home seen through distance where memory lingers and never fully fades.
That same pull comes to mind when I think of Sirimon “Mint” Boonprasit, a fashion designer and founder of her fashion brand, Sirimon. The first time I spoke with her, it felt like a conversation about where ideas begin and what they always reach back to.
She created Sirimon as a way of honouring her roots, a letter back to Thailand, where she was born. This is what she wants to represent through her art. It always traces back to her culture, her love for the people she grew up with, her mother and the environment that shaped her early life.
To the Girl Who Dreamed of Fashion Houses
“I grew up in a very creative household. My parents always encouraged my sister and I to think freely, ask questions and explore the world through our own lens. They believe that creativity is one of the most important tools for learning and understanding who you truly are as a person.”
Born in Thailand, Mint spent her early childhood there before moving to New Zealand at the age of eight. Today, she is based in London. Living across three very different places shaped her perspective on design, identity and belonging.
Her journey begins with a childhood shaped by curiosity and creative freedom. She grew up in a home where imagination was encouraged and questions were welcomed.
That early environment opened the door to many forms of art, but fashion captured her attention differently. It was never just about clothes. It was about how garments are built and how they shape identity, confidence and emotion.
She carried that interest into years of self-directed learning. After school in New Zealand, she spent afternoons in the library reading about fashion history, garment construction and couture techniques, alongside studying designers who approached fashion as a form of creative expression.
“At 13, I decided I wanted to become a fashion designer. I also made a promise to myself that I would one day build fashion houses in Europe and create work that leaves a meaningful impact beyond aesthetics.”
After studying Fashion Design in Wellington, New Zealand, she moved to London and worked with fashion houses including Burberry, Dior and Vivienne Westwood. The ambition may have grown, but the curiosity that sparked it remains the same.
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in fashion is the importance of detail and a clear sense of identity. Trends come and go, but a strong point of view endures. That lesson has shaped what Sirimon stands for today.”
To the Place She Called Home
With that dream carried into adulthood, Mint eventually founded Sirimon. From the very beginning, she knew she wanted the brand to stand for something beyond beauty and aesthetics. She wanted it to feel personal, rooted and connected to where she came from. That connection traces back to Thailand.
Her love of craftsmanship first came from her mother, who taught her how to sew as a child. Yet it was only after moving away from Thailand that she began to understand how much those roots meant to her.
“I think because I grew up in New Zealand, it drew me much closer to my Thai roots.”
The turning point came when she was around 17. For a fashion competition in New Zealand, Mint created a couture gown inspired by traditional Thai dress, reinterpreting its elements through contemporary techniques and construction. The piece was later showcased at New Zealand Fashion Week and won the competition. Looking back, she sees that moment as the beginning of something much bigger.
It sparked a deeper curiosity about Thai craftsmanship and cultural heritage, one that continued through university and later into her years working at major fashion houses. As her career progressed, so did her understanding of how she wanted to communicate with the world through her brand.
Those experiences eventually came together in Sirimon, a brand that speaks to a global audience while remaining connected to Thai culture, craftsmanship and identity.
“Thailand gave me an understanding of craftsmanship, cultural heritage and technical excellence. New Zealand taught me conscious creation, simplicity and authenticity. London showed me how tradition and innovation can exist side by side. Experiencing all three taught me that fashion is a universal language but the stories behind it are deeply local.”
To the Hands Behind the Silk
In search of the right material and creative language for her work, Mint returned to Thailand in the summer of 2023 and brought together years of research into Thai silk weaving communities. One of those journeys led her to Korat, where her mother grew up.
“Thai silk carries a deep heritage rooted in our culture. The more I learned, the more connected I felt to the weaving communities that have preserved this craft for generations.”
The experience felt like a return to something familiar. It connected her to the craftsmanship, stories and communities behind Thai silk. The first fabrics she chose for Sirimon came from those visits. It felt like the natural place to begin.
“I want Sirimon to celebrate these traditions in a way that feels relevant today. It is not about recreating the past, but creating a dialogue between heritage and modernity. Thai culture carries generations of stories and artistry, and that became the starting point for the brand and its first collection.”
Sirimon launched with The Signatures Season One, a debut collection that reinterpreted traditional Thai dress through a contemporary lens. Through tailored silhouettes and the fluidity of Thai silk, the collection introduced the brand’s approach to craftsmanship, culture and modern design. Much of the collection centred on two-ply silk, which Mint chose for its textured surface and character. While finer silks also appeared throughout the season, this particular weave offered the natural lustre and character of Thai silk.
“I think Thai silk is incredibly versatile. That balance between sharp tailoring and softness became central to Sirimon’s aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the natural folds and movement of traditional Thai dress. Beyond its cultural significance, what drew me to Thai silk was its potential. It is often seen as something reserved for special occasions, but I wanted to show how naturally it can exist within a contemporary wardrobe.”
Following the first drop, a second release debuted at Sirimon’s London summer pop-up with a retail shop and later at London Fashion Week in September 2024. The collection continued to rework elements of traditional Thai garments into silhouettes designed for the present day.
“Presenting at London Fashion Week felt like a full-circle moment. It connected a childhood dream to reality and gave me the chance to introduce Sirimon to an international audience. Most rewarding of all was seeing how people responded to Thai craftsmanship.”
Audiences lingered on the texture, shine and character of Thai silk, fascinated by how a centuries-old craft could feel so at home within a contemporary wardrobe. Press features, magazine placements and celebrity loans soon followed, a reminder that Thai craftsmanship still has the power to surprise and inspire.
“Since launching Sirimon, the lotus pink Signature Blazer from Season One has remained one of the pieces closest to me. It helped define the brand’s identity from the beginning and captures the balance between heritage, tailoring and contemporary design.”
To the Value of Every Thread
At the heart of the brand is respect. Every collection begins with the people, knowledge and craftsmanship behind Thai silk. Rather than reinventing the fabric, Mint reimagines the silhouettes around it which allows tradition and modernity to exist side by side.
Every piece begins with a story. Beyond confidence and self-expression, she hopes people connect with the many hands and generations behind each garment and carry those stories forward.
The deeper she explored Thai silk, the more it related to questions she cared about most, including sustainability. Through conversations with weaving communities and family members involved in agricultural development, she learned that silkworms often become part of the local food system after silk harvesting rather than going to waste.
“That shifted my perspective completely. It showed me how traditional knowledge has long embraced a more circular use of resources.”
That understanding became part of the foundation of Sirimon. Through each piece, the brand brings attention to the communities and local wisdom behind Thai silk while encouraging a deeper awareness of sustainability, craftsmanship and the value of resources that have long existed within traditional practices.
To What Comes Next
“I hope people come to see Thailand as a country rich in creativity, craftsmanship and cultural depth. Through my work, I want to highlight the sophistication, artistry and innovation that exist within Thai traditions.”
Just as every thread comes together to form a fabric, Mint sees the future of Sirimon as a continuation of the stories she has begun to uncover. She hopes to explore lesser-known silk traditions, techniques and craftsmanship from across Thailand and bring them into a contemporary conversation.
“I’m always drawn to conversations that go beyond the surface. Most ideas begin with a story or a question I want to explore. With Sirimon’s first collection, that question was simple: how can Thai silk exist within a contemporary wardrobe? The collection became my way of answering it.”
That curiosity continues to shape what comes next. While details remain under wraps, Mint shared that Sirimon’s upcoming season will take a different direction. Alongside a new collection, she hopes to open new conversations through pop-ups and panel discussions centred on Thai silk, local wisdom, sustainability and the communities that keep these traditions alive. For her, these conversations are just as important as the garments themselves. Each one becomes another thread in a larger story and a chance for Thai craftsmanship, cultural heritage and generations of knowledge to reach a wider audience.
