After opening its first concept store in Soi Thonglor last year, Playground has branched out with a second outlet to draw the shopaholic hordes at Central World.

Manga by Playground opened last week and is already generating overwhelming interest among Bangkok’s well heeled, giving a new meaning to the catchphrase “urban street lifestyle”.
“We named the shop Manga in reference to the Japanese comics, which are also a familiar part of Thai youth culture” says creative director Thongchai Busrapan.
As the shop’s logo is a wrestler’s mask, celebrities, singers, editors, actors and artists were invited to design their own imaginative masks for the exhibition celebrating the opening day.
Film director Yuthlert Sippapak made a mask with several eyes reflecting natural human curiosity, while model Mike Kingpayom came up with flame-like pattern.
MTV Trax magazine editor Nitra Kitiyakara came up with a scary mask complete with tears of blood that contrasted with the pure white design dreamed up by Puri Hiranpruek.
The party, which ran from 7pm to midnight, also projected the motion graphics created by people from different careers who are representative of the urban street lifestyle crowd.
Among them were actress Visa Sarasas, cartoonist Suttichart Sarapaiwanich, stylist Wachirapanee Markdee, artist Top Changtrakul and Nation photographer Thanis Sudto.
Reputed for its high-end streetwear, the 800-square-metre shop also stocks sneakers from familiar names like Vans by Marc Jacob, Lee Rider jeans, limited-edition designs, comics, videos and CDs, art and design books, subculture magazines and collectible toys.

– Ekkarat Sukpetch, The Nation