Cherlyn Ornika

Owner, Cherlyn Ornika & ORNIKA

Industry : The Arts

Thai silk, the silhouette of a jong kraben and the delicate form of a dok rak flower are not simply references to the past for Cherlyn Ornika. They are elements to be recut, reworked and returned to everyday life.

With a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Branding and Entrepreneurship and experience studying in London, Cherlyn co-founded ORNIKA with her sister, Kinar Ornika. Both sisters studied fashion design and plan to develop ORNIKA as a fine jewellery brand rooted in Thai heritage. Kinar’s graduate collection drew inspiration from Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, and her celebrated wardrobe, while Cherlyn’s work draws from childhood memories of celebrating Loy Krathong with her family.

That dialogue between cultural memory and contemporary dress runs throughout Cherlyn’s collections. Siam Love Language, for example, explores the symbolism of Loy Krathong through floral motifs and traditional folding techniques. Dok rak flowers, associated with love and respect, are transformed into handcrafted details inspired by Thai garlands. Traditional silhouettes and local artisanal techniques similarly provide material for reinterpretation rather than reproduction.

The result is fashion that asks heritage to participate in the present. Cherlyn’s aim is both outward- and inward-looking: introducing Thai design to wider audiences while encouraging younger Thais to reconnect with the craftsmanship and symbolism embedded in their own culture. For ORNIKA, keeping tradition relevant does not mean leaving it untouched. It means understanding its language well enough to speak it differently.