The passion for bags of a young girl from Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, was the starting point for the creation of “Fundao” by Fundao Baesakun, a designer and founder. Fundao is a Thai-made leather bag brand that is now spreading its wings globally.
Yin–Fundao The 30-year-old woman from Hat Yai has loved bags for as long as she can remember. When she was admitted to the Accounting Faculty at Chulalongkorn University, her mother gave her a Prada bag, the most expensive gift she had ever received. She said just touching and holding it made her heart soar and gave her great happiness.
Growing up in a business family involved in construction contracting and palm oil factories, Yin was a hardworking young lady. She couldn’t just snap her fingers to increase the number of bags she owned. She started a clothing business in her second year at university to earn her own money to buy bags, not wanting to burden her family since bags were considered luxury items. “I created a cardigan brand called Cardipie with an investment of 20,000 baht. I hadn’t made bags yet due to high costs and lack of experience. Making clothes was my starting point to learn about the fashion market.”
Knowing what she liked from a young age made her goals clear. After graduating in accounting from Chulalongkorn University, Yin immediately went to study fashion business management in Milan, Italy. She completed the course in just one and a half years and returned to Thailand in 2020.
“While in Milan, Yin took a Bag Pattern Making course to learn how to create bag designs. She planned to start her business immediately after graduation. The first handbag was a shoulder bag made from Phuket pearls, reflecting her southern roots. Sold through a website, it received a fair number of international orders because celebrities abroad used it. An actress from the Spanish Netflix series Elite carried our bag, which increased orders dramatically. However, production couldn’t keep up due to insufficient pearl supply. This problem made Yin realize that the next bag should use materials that support larger-scale production.”
One year later, Fundao started anew with the Ava bag, featuring a butterfly shape and the signature Iconic Double Cross design, creating a modern image with deep meaning.
It was Ava that brought Fundao widespread recognition. Yin explained that its success comes from a blend of design and functionality. The butterfly-shaped bag answers a common need because it’s wide and can hold many items. The original idea came from a problem all women understand: having to carry two bags because one is never enough.
The Iconic Double Cross design, present in every collection, symbolizes the connection between people and nature, intertwining with one another. Fundao’s bags mainly feature natural color tones. The pattern resembles an infinity symbol, representing timeless beauty.
In 2025, Fundao’s fifth year, Yin estimates that the company’s sales will reach 100 million baht. “The challenge is that I don’t make much profit because I refuse to compromise on quality no matter how high the costs are. We give customers as much as we can. I’m confident to say that quality is a long-term marketing campaign.”
Fundao recently opened a store in the Soho district of New York, USA, adding to its branch in Paris, France. To pave the way in the global market, having a base in leading fashion cities is essential, beyond participating in fashion weeks in Milan and Paris.
What seems like a smooth path also stems from her positive outlook on life. “It’s not that I haven’t faced obstacles or mistakes and disappointments, but I’m resilient and never give up. I have never accepted defeat or felt unlucky. It just wasn’t the right time yet. I just have to find another way. If I can’t move forward by walking, I’ll find a way to swim.”
Besides her full talents and charming appearance, one must ask about her beautiful name and the origin of the brand’s name. Yin explained that her mother named her because her father’s name is Kai Dao (Fried Egg). Her name, Fundao, is a shortened version meaning “Kai Dao’s dream.”
“I’m lucky to be born in Thailand, a market where people are kind and open to new brands. That’s why I have what I have today—to make bags that are recognized and loved, using my own name as the brand. I’m fortunate to be born in this era, when everything is easier.”
Lady Jane
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