PhaChaNa

PhaChaNa (pa-cha-na) in Thai refers to any kind of container, be it glassware, plates, vases, pots or cups. They reflect

the personalities and tastes of their user, which is why PhaChaNa’s founder, Komol Kongcharoen, values them. Initially, he was just attracted to the simplicity of ceramics, which motivated him to begin creating pieces. With a background in sculpture

and printmaking, he shifted his focus to sculpting clay. The pot shown in PhaChaNa’s logo is the first piece he ever crafted himself. It was the beginning of Komol’s journey with PhaChaNa, whose brand name in Thai (ภาชานะ) combines the Thai words for container and teapot.

As Komol originally knew little about ceramics, it was not an easy journey for him. He started the business in 2004, when the economy was in a slump. Many people he knew were against his idea, but he went ahead, wanting to create handcrafted ceramics that are unique and simple. He spent the next two decades learning the craft. To him it was like composing a story.

“Once you understand the rules, you can do whatever you like. There aren’t any other limits, so I really enjoy bringing my ideas to life. Every piece I create is made for just one person, so that person can feel special owning something that is unique,” said Komol with joy.

Komol feels that craftworkers sometimes get lost in their heads when they become too involved in their work and lose connection with people. He sees this as a challenge. Questions regarding issues like price, quality, the story of the design and so forth must all be answered. He tries to communicate with his customers, but sometimes it can be difficult to get the message through. Thus, he chose to begin holding workshops to share his knowledge and answer questions, allowing him to connect with customers who give him new ideas and suggestions that will challenge his skills.

PhaChaNa works embody their own concepts, which are unique. Komol incorporates local wisdom and tradition into his works. In one piece he used a wooden and brass latch to connect the holder with the cup. He won an award from Chiang Mai Design Awards for a piece inspired by the traditional khantoke that uses banana leaves and slivers of wood. He created an innovative teapot that can pour its content without being lifted. In addition to his regular wares, he also makes home accessories, which

can all be seen at Komol’s studio at Baan Kang Wat. And just as Komol once started out, you can go there and craft your own first piece of ceramic art.