SLUG Style: Deedee Sathianthammawit

When it comes to style, you could run to your local shopping mall to fork over cheaply-made parsels. Or if you’re like Deedee Sathianthammawit, you’re handcrafting the sleekest, comfiest clothing in town. As the main proprietor of the little shop on Etsy, Sathianthammawit brings a soft, yet stylish line to the table with love in every stitch. Check out more of Sathianthammawit’s fashion through her Instagram at @wbthamm or browse some of her collection through her Etsy shop!

Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.

Please provide your name, preferred pronouns, appropriate titles and any other identification information as you would like to see it appear published online or in print.

My legal Thai name is Prangchat Sathianthammawit (She/Her). My friends here call me “Deedee.” I also go by Deedee when talking about W.B.THAMM

What are your stylistic influences? This could be a band, decade, fictional character — anything.

“Form follows function.” It’s one of my favorite principles of design. My design preference would be simple and timeless with a sprinkle of surprisingly fun details.

What are your interests or hobbies? What is the hobby or interest that you have that no one would realize to ask you about?

I grew up playing the piano and became pretty good at it. Throughout my high school and college years, I earned money by teaching piano over the weekends.

When and how did you start making your own clothing? Where do you source the vintage items that you upcycle?

I’ve made my own clothing since college, mostly for fun and unprofessional/sloppy finishing. Lots of them were failed attempts. Over time, my sewing skills got better and I made pieces that I wore to work. My colleagues loved them, which made me realize that I might be good enough to make clothing for other people. This is how I built up my confidence before developing the idea into the W.B.THAMM clothing line.

I source vintage materials all over the U.S. — from local thrift stores and estate sales to quilt collectors/sellers who I have relationships with in other states.

What are some of the challenges you have faced when making clothing? What clothing item are you most proud of?

W.B.THAMM is a one-person operation. I do everything from the “fun” parts of designing, sourcing materials, pattern making and sewing to the “not-so-fun” parts of shipping, packing, content creating, customer service, photo taking, photo editing, marketing, etc.

I’m proud of every piece I’ve made. Each one has their own unique story of where the materials come from. Even though some of them were cut from the [same] material, they’re made from different parts of it [so] they look different. They are one-of-a-kind.

Are you always “on” or would someone see you at the grocery store, for example, with less elements of your style?

Either dressed up or dressed down, I think I’m always in the elements of my style.

What was it like to team up with Craft Lake City for the workshop you taught about visible mending?

It was so much fun! I was a bit nervous at first because I haven’t taught for years. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to explain something clearly or walk things through step by step. It turns out I was doing just fine and was so glad that I could share the creative ways of repairing old clothes and make them unique in their own styles.

What are you most excited at this year’s DIY Fest?

I don’t do local markets often, so I’m always excited to meet local customers. I’m also obsessed with building up the booth display, props and backdrop. I WILL surprise you!

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those be?

Creative, authentic, spontaneous. 

How has your personal style evolved over time?

There are trends that come and go. I experience those all the time. I think I‘ve already passed the point of following trends and experimenting with them. I’ve reached the stage of knowing my preferences, what I’m comfortable wearing and reflecting my personal style. I’m open-minded, though. So it’s still an ongoing process to embrace my unique self.

If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Embrace imperfections!

Read more SLUG Style here:
SLUG Style: Cyndi and Celeste Lee
SLUG Style: Ursula Cohen