“With Viapiana you get what you ask for. If you want purple denim, super stretched with pink thread, sure I can do that. I make them myself, so there won’t be millions of reproductions from a factory. People dig that. We love clothes that make a statement and remind us we’re unique.” – Ben Viapiana
“Viapiana“, is his family name. His father was a tailor from Italy and Ben grew up with tailoring. He discovered how freeing this sewing machines can be, as a escape to a free and borderless world and to customize anything. His Jeans-Fashion work is absolutely limited, unique and purely handmade in Bangkok. His style has it’s roots in the Bangkok skateboarding community. The boarders have been the cutting edge fashionist’s Ben has been looking for a long time, because often what they do influences fashion in Bangkok in some way.
PROFILE
Name: Ben Viapiana
Place of residence: Bangkok
Age: 23
Profession: Designer
Food: Proscuitto di parma …
Music: Pretty much anything
First things first: How did you come into the world of “fashion”?
It all started in the basement of my house, where my father had his tailoring business. Everyday I would see him making these amazing suits, pants, and shirts. Actually I was never interested in fashion to tell you the truth. My father would always tell me to pull up my lowriding jeans and dress in some proper clothing but I always refused. One day he told me that he would be ok with me wearing my style of clothing if I made it myself. So immediately I picked up the car keys and went and bought some denim. When I got home again I measured out a pattern from an existing pair of jeans that I already had and I started to make them. Ever since then I have been trying to one up myself and strive for a better outcome (my first pair that I made were a disaster, just to let you know).
Why did you decide to go this way. Is there anybody who inspired you?
At first, my only inspiration was myself. Trying to perfect what I already started. But as you know, nothing is perfect so I’m still trying as of today. Nowadays I look up to other denim brands for their ideas and methods of production but I will still always come back to my old way of me sitting alone behind my sewing machines pumping out piece by piece, one at a time.
Did you grew up in Italy or Canada and what was your reason to go to Bangkok?
I was born in Canada but my father was brought up in Italy. I guess a lot of “Italian” has rubbed off on me. I’m happy with having a double heritage behind my name, especially when Canada and Italy are both great countries. I came to thailand for a vacation and I really enjoyed my time here. I had no intentions of staying when I came, and this is before I even started to sell any product. But I stayed here and I’m continuously building my custom denim workshop.
As a “farang” (foreigner) how long did it take you to be part of the “fashion scene” in Bangkok?
The fashion scene in bangkok is a strange one. I don’t think I’m in it and I’m not sure if I want to be, but I do respect the things Thai designers are coming up with. When they are creative, they have a way of thinking that is not like the rest of the world. You don’t have to be a big part of a scene to feel comfortable with your work. My work represents me, not the scene and I’m fine with that.
How’s the Bangkok Fashion scene compared to the Italian?
Not as luxurious. But there is a lot of new designers from Thailand who are trying to give their country a good name. There are some great new things in Thailand, the problem that they see is the going out of Thailand and getting the recognition they deserve.
Is the Bangkok Fashion scene recognized internationally and what potential do you foresee?
There needs to be a better outlet for Thai designers to be seen around the world. Not enough of the talent is released into the world.
What’s your idea of good fashion?
Good fashion is anything that makes you comfortable and follows “fashion common sense”. Example, NO socks and flip flops … NO plaids and stripes … NO oversized jeans with tight shirts or vise versa. Just use your head and you wont be that far behind.
As a local, what is the best off-beat travel spot in Bangkok?
Well if you skateboard like I do, right now it would be at Ekkamai and Petchburi. The PINK skatepark. If you are just interested in a good chill spot you need to check out “Umpawa floating market”. I would recommend going there in the afternoon straight through to the evening. You can enjoy riverside food and a small market atmosphere with evening fireflies that light up the sky.
You’re currently expanding your custom-made line from jeans to accessories like bags. At which “project” you’re working at the moment?
At any given moment I’m doing some custom jeans for someone, (or myself). But it is true I am in the process of making some shirts and bags. There will be a few kinds of bags made from various materials as well. Denim and leather are the primary materials my bags will be featuring.
Do you have a ringtone and if not, what would be your favorite sound. I for example would love to have a Thai tokay?
I actually never had a ringtone until I came to Thailand. I seriously kept it on silent. But now I just use the standard Nokia ringtone, nothing special. I always thought of having a fart ringtone or something obnoxious, but I could never go through with it. With my luck my phone will start farting away in church or something.
What’s typical Thai and what’s typical Italian?
Anything you make it. The country’s culture depends on the people to preserve it, so do what you do making sure you give your country a good name.
Any messages to your fans and our readers?
Just play clean. No dirty fighting and respect your elders even if they’re ugly.
WIN: EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM-MADE JEANS GIVE-AWAY!
His Jeans and cuts will last wear upon wear, season upon season and that’s why we thought to offer our readers something very special: “get addicted to …” joined with Ben Viapiana to offer you this exclusive custom-made jeans give-away (see pictures above). There will be only ONE jeans worldwide with our LEARN TO RIDE Snowboard App and ” get addicted to …” brand logo and it will by absolutely handmade and tailored for the winner, for YOU!
HOW TO ENTER?
Just leave your creative reply/comment down below to the following question:
Which pocket do you put your wallet in and why?
Ben Viapiana is choosing the winner on 1st of december (01.12.2010) by himself – creative responses wanted!
Remember, only if you leave a comment you’ll have the chance to win!
THE WINNER IS …
… James Allen Davis (the rabbit gravatar). James, congrats to you by “get addicted to …” and Ben Viapiana!
OR, because we believe a loyalty-driven ‘I Support Creativity’ model is the future of publishing, support us with a monthly ‘Subscription’ of $10:
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All content © 2012 by get addicted to ... DAILY MIX OF CREATIVE CULTURE
My front pocket because it’s more comfortable for me.
I now put my wallet in my front left pocket. I learned my lesson while I was at the train station in Krakow, where I had it in my back buttoned pocket. Well, guess what happened? Yup, pickpocketed-gone-zilch! Lost cash, credit cards, etc. My wife likes to tease me though and say whoever did it had his hands all over INSIDE my pants feeling around, and I never knew it!
I put mine in my purse, but my husband uses a money clip and keeps it in his left front pocket.
This is what my husband says, “In my right back pocket so every time my wife grabs my wallet she grabs my butt too.” I would love to win this for my husband. Every man needs a good pair of jeans. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
ouch, if I carried a wallet that would probably mean I had money. My empty one sits with my driver’s license and insurance card in my purse. My hubby crams his into his left back pocket. What style jeans would you create (or should I purchase) to hide a puffy stomach??
I put it in my right pocket because I carry a bottle of water in my left pocket.
I also keep mine in my purse but my bf keeps his wallet in his back left pocket..on a chain.
Fun blog,Thanks!
I usually put it in my back left pocket as it feels just correct there. However when I’m sitting down I move it to the front right one. It just feels uncomfortable to sit on the wallet :) Front left pocket is usually occupied by my phone. Small change goes in the wallet or to the back right pocket, depends on the type of wallet I’m currently using.
My wallet goes in my purse, but DH always carries his in his right back pocket. He hates getting a new wallet, because the OLD (and I do mean old) one has been broken in to fit comfortably.
I put it in my right pocket because it is second nature to do so, thanks!
front pocket and i have my wallet in my right and the reason why because i am cool like that
front pocket. i put my wallet in the back pocket and the reason why because im cool like that
I’m a girl, so my pants are too tight – no room for any wallet in those pockets. I wear my wallet in my jacket pocket though! Left or right, all is good!
No wallet, my grandson still puts his money in his front pockets. keeps his license locked in the pocket of his car, along with his debit card. His is just 16 but a grown responsible boy. He rodeo’s and said the wallet gets in his way. ybutler@oppcatv.com
My fiance puts his wallet in his back right pocket because he is right-handed. However, jeans look better w/out wallets in them & it’s bad for your back to sit with a wallet in your back pocket all the time. Whenever possible, he keeps it also in a breast pocket of his shirt. Thanks for the contest! codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
Back left pocket except when I’m driving long distance. I’d love to have a pair of custom fitted jeans. Please, please please (OK – I’ll stop whining).
I keep it in my left front pocket – harder to pickpocket.
I might possibly be one of the most awkward people on this planet. I’m the girl who magnetically attracts half-dead foreign animals on the street, falls over that lump of nothing everyday, and wears hipster glasses to try and give herself an excuse for her extreme awkwardness. And I love it. I love not being able to speak in public without having some piece of clothing fall off, or being electrocuted. As for my wallet, it naturally plays up my awkwardness, as does everything around me. I am right handed, and I keep my wallet in my back left pocket, simply because it is a small victory every time I must retrieve it and I flail helplessly for a moment, twisted around backwards.
Left front pocket- a college girlfriend told me my jeans looked better that way.
I keep my wallet in my back right pocket – just feels comfortable.
I wil put it in my right back pocket because i dont have any inspiration
In the back pocket, because it just feels right
Mostly I just put my wallet in the back pocket right or left doesn’t matter
At the right back pocket because I am addicted to that …
Right, because left is the phone.
Wallet goes wherever it wants. Slide it into some extra wide front pockets, or deep back pockets that won’t let it shatter your ass when you sit down. That my friend is the beauty of custom jeans, functional and fashionable, the meeting of a day laborer’s staple and the everyman’s chilling clothes. I love that Ben is making that happen for peeps around the world.
I put it in my (right) back pocket because my front pockets are reserved for my mobile phone and my keys…
I put my wallet in my front right pocket. Now guess why:
Simply because keeping it in the back pockets would harm the condoms in it, when I sit on it. And you guys all know: Having a condom with you is always good for anything unexpected!
Wallet goes to the right one.
Phone to the left front
Lighter and stuff into the right front.
And the left back needs to be empty, because is it full, my butt would look fat as well.
I put it on my back left pocket, because when I reach it with my left hand , I can manipulate it right and easy.
Don’t put it in that pants!
It would be a waste of the view…
i dont need to carry a wallet, my coin purse is big enough! ;)
And yes, being that I’m a rabbit, I could use some suspenders to, they seriously help me with being able to keep my pants up. Can you help me out with that? Nobody’s ever taken the time to make me a pair, I’d seriously appreciate it & have wanted a pair my whole life. Everybody always just says something like go get some rubber bands & some Shoe Goo & just deal with it, but rubber bands pull my fur & irritate my skin so much, I can’t stand them! I’ve thought about bungee cords & hair ties but I don’t have thumbs & can’t sew, it sucks! Please help me out, I’ll be grateful & indebted to you forever, maybe I can even help you find a cute woman or something in return, what do you think?! Just take me for a walk on a leash through the park or downtown somewhere, it’s a guaranteed killer every time, works without a doubt, no matter what, every time, I’ll talk to you later Ben, have a nice day, bye! :o)
Which pocket do you put your wallet in and why?
Well, I could come up with an elaborate, creative answer, which I’m tempted to & might just do here, but honestly, my right rear pocket ’cause I’m right handed & that’s where it fits best, naturally. Obviously, it’s too big for your right front pocket (if you have them), & it would just completely prevent you from being able to move without restriction. But I realize that I’m answering this question assuming that I’m wearing jeans. The truth is, I wear shorts more often than jeans year round for the most part, except when it’s cold of course & winter; but for the most part, the truth is, it’s almost always in my right cargo pocket. Even my boardshorts have cargo pockets or I just don’t buy ‘em. I’ve resorted to mainly buying military BDU pants for shorts & taking them to a local seamstress/tailor here in town that specializes in alterations, etc., etc. It’s not cheap, I admit it, but it’s fully worth it in my opinion, in the long run. Without goin’ on & on here just to make my entry “stick out” from everybody else’s due to length, that’s my honest answer, my right cargo pocket; & why, well the same reason as why I put it in my right rear pocket when I’m wearing jeans, ’cause I’m right handed, duh! Anyway, you should make some cargo jeans if you haven’t yet, I know they’re kind of different & some people might even think they’re kind of dorky, but they’re fully functional & would be easy to wash & comfortable as well; if you happen to wind up picking me as the winner for this, that’s what I’d like, cargo pocketed jeans, in some color like white, burgundy, or red, we’ll see. Anyway, take it easy Ben, don’t spend too much time in the shop there, get out once in awhile & get some sun & fun in while you still can & you’re young, later bro’, peace!
Right, its easy ;)
After my tailbone broke,
I put it on the left
of my funky fresh jeans
so I get a butt injury
by absolutely no means!
To my right, my hip has adapted it.
Thanks to Dan from Absoluteley Bangkok (http://www.absolutelybangkok.com) for tipping his readers about the Ben Viapiana give-away. Dan, you rock!
I call solid, corner pocket =)
Depends on location. Toronto; back pocket. Foreign land; front right. It’s a comfort level with toronto vs new crowds.
I put it in my right front pocket of my new custom made jeans;-) only there , or wherever;/)
Loose change goes in the right front pocket.
Nice interview, Ben.
I use to put it on my front right pocket because I never figured out how people sit with their wallets on their bum! But it no longer goes in my pocket, because over time, there’s a wallet-shaped worn mark on the pocket… so now it goes in the bag.
I don’t put it in a pocket
I put it in a purse
That’s how I rock it
This poem could be worse
I’ve love to have a Ben bag
To rock my wallet in
Guay teaw makes me gag
But Ben’s stuff for the win!
Back pocket to say “TAKE THAT WEZ BARBER”
Yes, wez barber… take that and stick it in your nose..
My back right pocket as there is no room in the front of my pants, if you know what I mean…
To prevent pickpocketing, I wear cargo pants and keep my wallet in a zipped-up pocket below my right knee.
I like the comments so far … keep them coming … and get creative … links, songs, poems or raps for answers are encouraged …
Ben, you’re right. Really good comments so far … keep them coming … props to our readers!
In my right frontpocket cause my last purse got stolen in the back pocket :(
My front purse pocket because it zips.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill at comcast.net
Rear pocket. On the left. It’s getting stretched out due to my wallet’s heft. I carry cards, receipts, a business card stash…I only wish it contained more cash. I grab it and go, wherever I wanna. But it would look better in jeans made by Ben Viapiana.
Back right pocket!
Wallet in left pocket cause I’m a lefty
I put my wallet in my purse – I’m a Girl for Gods sake.
I don’t carry a wallet, just my idea and credit card…in my back right pocket.
Back pocket
I don’t like bumps that aren’t my own so I.D. and money in right front and that’s that. Unless I’m fortunate enough to have someone else’s hand in a rear pocket while we’re walking along. That’s acceptable (and appreciated).
Wallet in left pocket & handkerchef in right.
I almost alway put my wallet in my right front pocket for a few simple reasons.
1) My phone goes in my left front so that ones taken
2) I dont like the feeling of sitting on it when its in either back pockett
3) There are no other pocketts left big enough for my wallet
I definitely agree with you. First of all keeping the wallet in your front pocket is safe. Second, you don’t sit on a hard, full wallet and end up being uncomfortable even sitting down. Therefore Right front pocket is the best place.
Back pocket mverno at roadrunner.com
A wallet belongs in the trouser pocket, makes no difference on the left or on the right, central issue is, I sit on it!
My front pocket
I usually put my wallet in my left pocket!
In my right, cause there I feel the comfort to sit on it :)))
Wallets just don’t work for me … Lumpy buts art for chumps. MONEY CLIP in a front pocket.
In my right front pocket, because it simply feels good :)