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Danai

Danai

"For the past 20 years or so, I have had good and bad times but I enjoyed it all. It is pretty much like black coffee – bitter, sweet and very nice."

"My name is Danai Leosawathiphong. I was born March 20, 1949 in northern Thailand. My grandfather was a Chinese immigrant from the Canton province. He emigrated to Thailand at the end of the 19th century when he was in his early twenties. He was a very hard working person trading goods all along the river and during that time he met my partner's grandfather.

"I studied business and left for England. Engineering interested me, and I graduated with an engineering degree from Leeds University. I met Ilkay, my wife there. She went to Brunel University where she graduated in polymer science.

"In 1976, Ilkay and I came back to Thailand. Originally my family and partner's family planned to get into mining. And in order to analyze the rocks, ores and minerals, we needed to set up a lab. Then my partner's father suggested that we could also use the lab to create something representative of the area, and we came up with the idea of covering natural products such as exotic flowers and plants with gold. Well, the easiest way was to experiment with copper.

"So we started electro-plating products. We got a small bathtub, filled it with an electrolytic solution and placed anodes in there. We placed flowers in as cathodes wired to a DC rectifier and went home. Of course, we could not wait to see the results, so we came back at 2 or 3 in the morning. Yes, the flower should be nice by now. We took them out and… Wow! Only the wires were left! We tried and tried until we had our first flower covered with metal, but it really looked like a shrimp. So this experimenting lasted about two years. We had to start working professionally, because our process is not electro-plating, but rather electro-forming. Basically with electro-forming the layer of plating is much thicker and the surface better leveled than with electro-plating.

"It was a very demanding and challenging time for Ilkay and me because there were so many details involved in trying to get our products off the ground, working on packaging and advertising, etc. We had to run this activity like a proper business and, with our scientific backgrounds, this was another challenge. It was just as we were launching our product on the market that my partner married. His wife is in charge of marketing and has helped us tremendously.

"This new venture gave flavor to my life. It has enabled me to provide employment to others in my community, and they can provide for their families. From the very beginning, one of our main objectives has been to employ women, as there were few job offers for women then. Another main objective has been the environment, because we have to deal with chemicals. We reprocess everything we use and do not throw anything away. All our boxes are made out of recycled paper as well.

"I think our creations have a lot of potential. I do not think they will go out of fashion, because people generally love flowers. It is so interesting when you work for yourself. For the past 20 years or so, I have had good and bad times but I enjoyed it all. It is pretty much like black coffee – bitter, sweet and very nice."

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189 items by Danai

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Reviews by Customers

Artist rating

Total reviews

216

Shion

Verified Reviewer

09/10/2020

"GORGEOUS"

I purchased this item as a gift. It was beautiful and well-made.

Purchased Item:

Orchid Majesty, Genuine Purple Orchid Resin Pendant Necklace with Gold Chain

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Alison

Verified Reviewer

09/08/2020

"Stunning!"

Truly gorgeous!

Purchased Item:

Aqua Perfection, Fair Trade Gold Plated Natural Orchid Pendant Necklace

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Aurora

Verified Reviewer

08/27/2020

"Unique and Special"

Gave this necklace to my Mother for Christmas, and she was so delighted, and surprised. Beautifully made, and this piece is so unique, and special. Her girlfriends always comment how beautiful, and radiant looks on her, and that makes her day every time she gets to go out with them! Thank you so much......

Best Uses

For any ocasion!

Purchased Item:

Forest Solo, Gold Plated Leaf Pendant Necklace

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Pat

Verified Reviewer

07/17/2020

"these earrings are stunning"

I love, love, love these earrings made from orchid petals. I have purchased them in this gorgeous blue and in the rose, I purchased a pair for myself and one for my friend.

Purchased Item:

Twilight, Orchid Petal Earrings

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Pat

Verified Reviewer

07/17/2020

"these earrings are stunning"

I bought a pair for me and then for a cherished friend. We are both delighted that such a beautiful item can be made from orchids and extend their beauty forever. Nice and unusual idea.

Purchased Item:

Chiang Mai Kiss, Orchid Petal Dangle Earrings

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Jenny

Verified Reviewer

07/15/2020

"Beautiful!"

These earrings are a lovely color and have become a new staple in my wardrobe. I really enjoy wearing them. They look great with black.

Best Uses

Casual wear

Purchased Item:

Petal Rain, Natural Orchid Flower Dangle Earrings in Magenta

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