Going Bananas
You may recognise her as the Founder of Banana Warrior cafe, a well loved cafe in the heart of Sukhumvit, Bangkok. Today, Julia Panchkowry is diving into the world of sustainable fashion with her latest venture, House of Banana. Her inaugural collection, slated to launch in September 2024, features a range of garments from silky satin dresses to oversized blazers, trousers and classic cotton T-shirts. Designed with versatility in mind, these high-quality pieces boast bold prints and vibrant palettes to empower women.
Who is Julia Panchkowry? Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how the Banana Warrior started?
I’m an expat entrepreneur and multiple business owner. Originally from London, I'm now based in Bangkok, Thailand. Initially, I moved to Bangkok almost ten years ago to work as a primary school teacher in an international school.
I thought that relocating to Bangkok and teaching there would satisfy my craving for new experiences. However, after a couple of years in Thailand, I still felt that I wanted more.
And then more came! In my second year living in Bangkok, I became an accidental entrepreneur through my love of baking. As a child, my mum taught my sister and I how to bake and I have loved creating sweet bites in the kitchen ever since.
When I moved to Thailand, I struggled to settle into the life here, because it was so different to London. Baking gave me a sense of being at home. I started experimenting with healthy dessert alternatives in my apartment, mainly vegan banana bread.
One day, I was very hungry after a yoga class, so I asked the studio if they had ever thought of selling snacks. That’s how my first business, The Banana Warrior was born!
A week later, I was selling my banana bread at the yoga studio and I quickly began distributing my plant based desserts to restaurants, cafes, coworking studios and gyms across Bangkok.
I was still working full time as a teacher and baking from my home kitchen during breaks, and before school to keep up with the demand. After six months, I decided to go all in and I left my teaching job to pursue full-time entrepreneurship.
After two years of running a business from my home kitchen, Emquartier mall approached us after they saw our desserts at a food market. They asked us to open our first restaurant in the mall, ‘The Banana Warrior Cafe.’
After running the restaurant and bakery, I discovered a real passion for building and elevating businesses. I wanted to assist others in transforming their ideas and dreams into successful profitable brands too. I started a business mentorship practice, offering one-on-one coaching sessions to help others achieve business growth which I still run internationally today.
After three really beautiful years at The Banana Warrior Cafe in Emquartier our contract came to an end, and renewing in this space was not a viable option for our business development. As a result, we temporarily closed until we found a more suitable space.
What inspired you to start a sustainable fashion brand, The House of Banana, and what values are at the core of its mission?
My interest in sustainable, slow fashion started when I was in London a few years ago. There were a lot of retail stores and events specifically dedicated to slow fashion. I was initially drawn to how different and unique all of the clothes were, coupled with the thrill of not knowing what I would find. The sense of empowerment I felt from making a fashion choice that also had an environmental impact was profound.
When I returned from that trip, I hosted a clothes swap at the Banana Warrior Cafe. Wearing clothes that used to belong to your friends or people around you, builds a beautiful sense of community. I decided to set up a sustainable fashion brand, ‘House of Banana.’
When and how did you decide that you wanted to be a fashion designer after Banana Warrior?
I’ve wanted to have my own fashion brand for a few years. I put a huge amount of effort into what I wear because it makes me feel so good. Some of my clients had suggested that I launch a business in fashion after seeing my outfits on Instagram. I became even more passionate about the ideas as I love design and creating from scratch.
I’m constantly keeping up with the latest in the fashion world and I’m wildly inspired every time I travel. I enjoy looking at how local people dress and what is happening with style culturally in different places. I want to combine elements from my global experiences into my designs..
We are very excited that you'll be launching your first collection soon. Could you tell us more about what's coming up?
Expect bright, vibrant colours, prints and everyday designs in our ready-to-wear collection. Each piece is designed to help you stand strong in who you are and make a bold statement.
Could you tell us the concept behind the House of Banana?
Slow, stylish, high quality, sustainable fashion. House of Banana focuses on sustainability, connection to the earth and each other, and the celebration of identity and inclusivity where we embrace diversity in origins and appearances. I want these clothes to empower and be accessible to everyone.
Who is your muse, your icon, or inspiration when you create a collection?
I’m constantly keeping up with the latest in the fashion world and I’m wildly inspired every time I travel. I enjoy looking at how local people dress and what is happening with style culturally in different places. I want to combine elements from my global experiences into my designs.
Do you have plans to showcase your collection on a runway?
Our inaugural collection will debut in September 2024, featuring our first designs on the runway during the launch party.
Can you tell us about the materials and production processes you use to create your clothing line, and how they contribute to environmental conservation?
We aim to source materials locally whenever possible, with production taking place in South East Asia. We will make the clothes in small quantities to add a unique element and avoid mass production. We’ve personally visited the factories and manufacturers to ensure sound practice. Eventually, I plan to incorporate recycled fabrics from factories to create bespoke pieces, and potentially establish my own manufacturing space that teaches people from underdeveloped communities how to create and make clothes.
