The call of the wild aside, in 1992 he decided to return to Europe to further his studies at the Business School Lausanne and after graduating he came home to work for Siam Commercial Securities. He describes the experience as invaluable in terms of understanding how business is done in Thailand and emerged from the 1997 financial crisis battle-hardened and finally ready to join the family firm.
“I’d always considered it. In the early years, Lotus Arts de Vivre was run partly as a hobby. When I joined in 1998 I wanted to take it up a notch but of course, I had to learn the ropes.”
Learn he did and while much has changed since he joined, the doting husband of Rekha and father of Arri, 11, Leo, 10, and Tara, 5, also says much at Lotus has remained the same.
“The way we approach our products, our use of natural materials and handcrafted artisanal techniques, these are constants. We visited local craftsmen around the region frequently in the early years and it’s something we still do now. The family brand is what it is today because of the respect and rapport built up over the years between our clients, our skilled artisans and us.” Now a globally renowned brand, Lotus Arts de Vivre has expanded its reach with stores dotted across Asia, Europe and the US.
A goal now is to use technology to reach a wider audience for its products. “As the creators of unique objects, we offer pieces that tell a story,” says Nicki of the brand’s unique style, which highlights cultural and historical influences in rare natural materials. “We have beautiful, inimitable works that deserve to be seen and admired by many more people than just the collectors who see them now, so we are focusing on developing an online platform—including social media channels—to create greater recognition and avenues for our artisans.”
