Vudi Somboonkulavudi has always been a fashion enthusiast, but he felt it was totally uncool to wear big brands like everyone else.
"New, trendy items just didn't appeal to me anymore, so I searched for something that I wouldn't see anyone else wearing," he said.
Scouring junk piles at Chatuchak Market became his favourite hobby. The story behind vintage items fascinated him, and soon he learned that fashion is, in fact, duplication and renovation of things from the past.
Vudi went to New York to study in 2010. Tucked in his suitcase was a list he had compiled of must-visit places, based on his passion for vintage goods.
"There were more than 200 names on that list, from flea markets and vintage shops to cafes. I wanted to explore as much as possible. Name any flea market in New York City, I've been there," said Vudi, who spent two years market-hopping around New York and its neighbouring areas.
Although it was a fascination with vintage items that got him started, Vudi fell more in love with flea markets when he learned about the intricate relationships of the people involved in their set-up.
"What brings people from different areas together, each bringing their most-loved items? How did that happen? Every time I talked to them, I couldn't help but smile. It's a beautiful story of how like-minded people find their place together. It's no longer about the items. It's the amazing network of people with a shared interest, which leads to many other amazing things. For example, when a helmet-maker meets a motorcycle-maker at the flea market, a new collaboration is born. Flea markets result in the exchange and development [of knowledge]. That's what I wanted to see in Thailand as well," Vudi said.
The aim of his research was to determine the mentality of the vintage flea market so that he could recreate it in Thailand. He was confident that the concept would be well-received, as he knew many people who were passionate about vintage items, but there was no platform for them to form a community.
"The idea is not to bring people together to sell vintage items, but to highlight the history of vintage," he said. "Before a person buys something from the stall, I want him or her to ask about the story, to show respect for the item and the collector, not just to throw money at it without knowing its true value."
One example, he said, would be a pair of jeans found in a mining field. While they are not wearable, they are worth a lot of money because of their backstory.
The first Made By Legacy Flea Market took place last December. Vudi said his intention was to convince people who would not normally get together to do just that.
"It was quite a challenge and a risk, to be honest. I just told them that the event started at 3pm and a stall would be kept for them. There was no expense, no contract. I can proudly say that 95% of the people I approached showed up that day," he said.
The third Made By Legacy Flea Market will take place on Dec 21 and 22 at Bangkok Samosorn Rod Fai. Vudi feels that the market's location speaks perfectly for its vintage spirit.
"The place is in the old town area, and the architecture surrounding the space has an antique feel _ most of them were built during the reign of King Rama V. It sort of feels like Brooklyn _ you can call it the Brooklyn of Bangkok," he said.
Although the previous two market were successful, Vudi does not focus on attracting more people. Rather, he hopes that those who have come before will return and spend more time exploring what it has to offer.
"I know for sure that I will be seeing familiar faces again, because this is the place to be for anyone who loves vintage," Vudi said.
Made By Legacy Flea Market will take place on Dec 21 and 22 from 3pm to 9pm at Samosorn Rod Fai. Visit www.madebylegacy.com for more.
