Better late Thann never as top Thai lifestyle label finally opens store in TST

No longer will you have to go to Thailand to pick up stuff from Thann. The Bangkok-based beauty and lifestyle label has finally opened a store in Hong Kong at the K11 mall in Tsim Sha Tsui and its founder Tony Suppattranont was here this week to check out the look of the street-level shop which, of course, evoked nature and natural elements in its Asian ingredients.

'I was in Australia years ago and saw a lot of natural cosmetics that housewives made at home and sold at weekend markets like at Pennington,' Suppattranont recalled. 'I was always interested in herbs and things growing in the garden. In Thailand we have lots of these ingredients for food and natural massage and I just started from there making soap with rice bran oil. I was also lucky to have two dermatologist sisters.'

Since Thann launched seven years ago, its skincare and body products have become favourites with numerous hotels and airlines, as well as in 22 countries. 'Hong Kong tourists are one of our major clients in shops in Thailand. We always knew Hong Kong would be a good market so that's why we wanted to work with people with strong retail and brand skills. The higher the potential, the more careful we want to be.'

Sounds more like a businessman than a nature guru. For a Thann spa, though, you'll have to wait until next year.