Actors playing Myanmar generals in the film The Lady were clothed in reproduced uniforms made by Saner Lohvitee. On the left, the soldier is dressed in a WWII-era uniform while in the middle, the style changes after the Japanese occupation.

By Terry Fredrickson

Actors playing Burmese military characters in the film The Lady were all clothed by Silpakorn graduate Saner Lohvitee, a highly skilled Thai wardrobe and prop designer. Let’s meet him.

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You may not have heard the name Saner Lohvitee (เสนอ เลาะวิถี), but you have almost certainly seen in his work in countless TV adverts and television productions. The 39-year old Silpakorn University graduate is an expert costume designer and he designs props – those small items used by actors – as well.
 
His specialty is military uniforms and his latest job was to clothe the entire Myanmar army in the French-made Aung San Suu Kyi biopic The Lady.

Recently, the Bangkok Post's film critic Kong Rithdee talked to Saner about his work and his story appears in today's Bangkok Post. You can read it in full here: http://bit.ly/Hi7GSQ

Below are some excerpts from their conversation.

Click button to listen to Saner and rightclick to download

Clothing the Burmese army

The Bangkok Post’s Kong Rithdee talks to Saner Saner Lohvitee

Saner Lohvitee (เสนอ เลาะวิถี)

How did you first get into working with military uniforms?

It's always been a personal interest of mine. I collect military books and memorabilia because there's a certain aesthetic and historical appeal to them. I'm a graduate from the Faculty of Fine Arts.

I started out working as a prop-maker – making models for commercials. I never thought I'd be able to make a living from my knowledge of military history.

When you're given a new assignment, how do you carry out the research?

It used to be picture books; there are a lot of magazines devoted to military stuff. Now, of course, the internet is proving very helpful. Sometimes I still have to look up old newspapers.

And for certain projects, I go to collectors – there are people in Thailand who collect military uniforms and other paraphernalia. I'll ask to see the items I'm interested in, then I'll make copies of them for use on the shoot. When necessary, I also order stuff from eBay; you can find almost anything there!

You've worked on The Lady, which was a very big production and also a period film that covered several decades. Tell us about the process.

It was a big French production. I was in the costume department and my job was to find clothes for every soldier in the film. There was a research team – all French –  who went to Myanmar and came back with pictures and information. I did some more research on my own. The film starts in the 1950s, at the time of General Aung San, the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, and continues right on down to the 1990s. I had to do the uniform of a general in Burma before the Japanese invaded. During the occupation the Japanese forced them to change it to resemble a Japanese-style uniform [see photos]. Altogether we had around 130 uniforms made. It wasn't so hard because it was a big production with money, so I basically got whatever I wanted.

I also had to do all the military decorations and medals, the helmets and other accessories. This can be done simply by looking at photos and making replicas of everything you see. In general, period films are tougher because you have to make sure you get every detail right.

Where do you get the materials to make all these uniforms?

For The Lady, for instance, I tried to find what was available in Thailand. The usual places to shop are lang krasuang [the area behind the Interior Ministry, near Khlong Lot] – that's where all kinds of military gear can be found. Then I also went to Talad Rong Klua, the flea market in Aranyaprathet [Sa Kaeo province]. And, of course, Chatuchak Market, which is always a treasure trove. If something isn't available in those places, I'll find a picture of what I'm looking for, then consult collectors or go to eBay to order one. Then I'll reproduce the design.

What does it take to be a good wardrobe specialist?

You have to be very observant.

You have to have an eye for detail. But it's not just the look of things. It's about history, it's about the story behind it, because that's how you understand why something looks the way it does, especially when it comes to period costume.

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