After graduating from Boston University in 1997 with a business degree, he moved to New York City in order to work in the fashion industry.[5]
After starting a career as a fashion writer, Panichgul developed an interest in designing, and eventually pursued formal studies at Parsons School of Design from 2001 to 2003.[5]
Career
In 2000, Panichgul started his fashion career in writing at Harper's Bazaar working as an associate features editor.[6][7][5]
Kathryn Murdoch co-founded the Thakoon brand of clothing and accessories with Thakoon in 2004, and remained a partner[8][9][10] until its sale in 2015.[11]
In 2015, Vivian Chou's company Bright Fame Fashion acquired a controlling interest in Thakoon Corp. for an undisclosed sum;[13] Murdoch sold her share of the business.[10]
In 2009, Panichgul launched Thakoon Addition as a capsule component to his runway collection.[14] Addition subsequently had stand-alone presentations at New York Fashion Week.[15] Through a license with Six London, the brand added shoes to the assortment by 2013.[14]
In 2008, Diego Della Valle signed Panichgul up to create a clothing brand for Hogan.[16][17] In 2009, he ended his two-year contract as the brand's creative director.[18]
Panchigul produced a well-received limited-edition clothing line at Target in early 2009. In 2012, he made a limited-edition series of lacquers for NARS Cosmetics based on the brights from his spring runway.[19]
In September 2019, after a two-year hiatus away from the industry in which he changed his approach and realized that "it's not about fads and trends anymore",[20] Panichgul launched a direct-to-consumer line on THAKOON.com.[21] His new start-up site aimed to create comfortable clothing from a luxury designer perspective.[22] Panichgul was also the force behind the creative platform HommeGirls: a magazine and retail site that celebrated menswear and tomboy style and culture among women.[23] It was launched via Instagram in March 2019 with images of menswear-inspired fashion.[24]
Other activities
From 2009 and As of 2021[update], Panichgul has been the creative director of jewelry company Tasaki.[25][18]
Recognition
Panichgul was a runner-up for the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund in 2006, and nominated by the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2007 for the Swarovski Award for emerging women's wear designer of the year.[16][5]
Panichgul and creative director Russell Spina have been in a relationship since the early 2000s. As of 2020[update] the couple lives in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood.[27]
^"Kathryn Murdoch bio". Kathryn Murdoch. Retrieved 18 September 2024. She continues to be an active investor in efficient and sustainable fashion and has been a partner at Thakoon LLC since 2004.
^"Thakoon". SHOWstudio. Retrieved 18 September 2024.