Cotton? Oh, yes it can!

       Anyone who finds cotton "boring" hasn't been to Cotton Can Do, where phakhao ma and other traditional Thai drapes become eye-catchaing hoem decor.
       Talented couple Cheewin and Kesara Amornisingha began putting their creative experience at GMM Grammy and an advertising company to startlingly good use in 2005.
       What began as a hobby blossomed into a store at the Bon Marche mall that sold children's clothing, tody and decorative items.
       Unfortunately the shop didn't succeed, but for the 2007 Bangkok gift and houseware fairs they unveiled cosy cushions and mattresses made form cotton hand-woven by Chaiyapum crafsmen.
       Traders from Singapore and Vietnam snapped them up, and the goods became best-sellers made from cotton hand-woven by Chaiyaphum craftsmen.
       Traders from Singapore and Vietnam snapped them up, and the goods became best-sellers online as well.
       Cheewin and Kesara now sell teir items at his sister's used-clothing boutique on Phra Sumeru Road, and last year they had anothr winning booth at the gift and houseware fairs.
       The style they use is "Sino-Isaan", they say, mixing Siamese tradition with brilliant Chinese silks bearing floral paterns in vivid shades of purple, blue and red.
       Their latest designs utilese materials normally used for loincloths and shirts in a tartan pattern unique to Ratchaburi and stripes from the Northeast in yellow, pink, bright blue, orange, red and white.
       "We want to emphasise that Thai uniqueness through beautiful, soft textiles," says Cheewin.
       "The cushions are filled with kapok, which is locally grown but has become rather rare today. It's soft and comfortable, but the one bad point about kapok is that the cushion can't be washed."
       The cushions can. However, be folded in serval ways, to serve as a futon, matrss or iollow.
       And coming up are lamps and chandeliers made from pha khao ma and batik. Meanwhile, if you have a special design in mind, have a special ddsign in mind, Cotton Can Do will take custom orders.

       >> CAN AND WILL
       - Cotton Can Do is at 505 Phra Sumeru Road, near the Passport bookstore. You have to call (081) 346 6828 to arrange a visit, but you can also see what's on offer at www.MaliCamin.com/Blog.