Supermodel, designer, fashion stylist and style icon are only a few monikers that describe Rai von Bueren’s many creative talents. Rai’s experiences working on fashion shoots in exotic and luxurious destinations around Asia led her to create sexylittlebeach – tropical luxury resort wear based on the traditional Asian garments she wears in her daily life.
Rai’s career as a supermodel in the 90’s has spanned appearances in TV commercials including Citibank’s regional campaign, print ads, and international magazines including multiple appearances as a cover girl for Elle, Marie Claire, and Her World magazines. She is the model for Four Seasons Resorts worldwide ad campaign.
While working as a model and stylist for the best-selling international coffee table books Thai Spa Book, Thailand’s Luxury Spas, and The Tropical Spa and shooting in Asia’s top luxury resorts, her signature daily wear of wraparound fisherman pants and sarongs was much admired and coveted by people who loved her unique style and wanted to know where to buy such garments for themselves. Rai started making one-of-a-kind garments for friends and then developed sexylittlebeach, which is now sold in top luxury resorts.
Based on Rai’s own relaxed and easy personal signature style of traditional Thai fisherman pants, sarongs and simple tops, translated into luxurious fabrics and colours – sexylittlebeach reinterprets Asian garments into elegant contemporary wear that is perfect for lounging around in luxury resort settings as well as chic city wear for the jet set crowd.
Rai’s design credits include her own brand of textiles, Khomapastr by Rai for the classic Thai textile house Khomapastr in Thailand, and a merchandise line Bed by Rai for the famed Bed Supper Club in Bangkok. Well-plugged into the hip nightlife scene, her work includes designing staff uniforms for hotspots such as Miss Yip’s Café in Miami Beach and 87 Club at the Conrad Hotel Bangkok.
Rai and her sexylittlebeach line have been featured on the hit TV show America’s Next Top Model, Elle Magazine (USA), Town & Country (USA), the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), and the Bangkok Post (Thailand) and many more.