Bangkok Shop Owner Defends Right to Sell Controversial Shirts

[snoop1130]

Photo via Facebook/ ชลธิชา นาวาทอง

 

In a recent online post, Chonticha Nawathong, the owner of a second-hand clothing store in Bangkok, publicised her frustration with foreign tourists demanding she stop selling shirts featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler. Located at the Bang Sue Junction near Chatuchak Weekend Market, her shop showcases rare shirts, some involving contentious figures.

 

Chonticha claims these tourists are infringing on her business rights by pressuring her to remove the contentious items. She and her partner declined to comply with these requests, standing firm in their right to decide their shop's inventory. Chonticha took to social media to voice her stance, arguing that her shop functions like a museum displaying rare and provocative items, and told dissatisfied visitors to "close your eyes and walk away" if they disapproved.

 

In addition to posting about the situation, Chonticha shared videos and images of these confrontational encounters. One video records a heated exchange with a Ukrainian man being pushed from her store, showing tensions nearly escalating into violence.

 

 

Chonticha also mentioned other vendors facing similar situations. One peer reportedly faced demands to remove a shirt bearing Nazi imagery. Despite the contentious subject, Chonticha insists her shop respects Thai commercial laws, reinforcing her autonomy to sell any shirts of her choice. She invited detractors to purchase and dispose of the shirts themselves if they feel strongly opposed.

 

As arguments over the rights to free commerce versus cultural sensitivity in business spaces unfold, Chonticha's situation highlights broader issues of globalisation and cultural clashes in increasingly cosmopolitan cities like Bangkok, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-28

 

 

[chuang]

Who the fork are these people to order others what to sell...if they don't like they can buy off the products and throw them away..

These people are making a living in their own country if you don't like go back to your country...

[Tropicalevo]

12 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Chonticha insists her shop respects Thai commercial laws, reinforcing her autonomy to sell any shirts of her choice.

 

I suggest that she does not sell any shirt that contravenes section 112.

[save the frogs]

they should be allowed to sell them perhaps.

but only an idiot would walk around with a controversial political t-shirt. you don't know who might decide to beat the crap out of you.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

I recall when stalls were selling Osama Bin Laden T-shirts.... 

 

I thought at the time...  there's a segment of society here that is incredibly juvenile and insensitive to world events.

 

Of course, a simple T-Shirt can't harm anyone, but the imagery is powerful and this shows extreme ignorance - instead of defending herself, the vendor should be ashamed and embarrassed, as should anyone who purchases such items.

 

 

[Harrisfan]

Like the women I saw in Udon. Really big image of Hitler.

 

 

[Ralf001]

Next time Iam down that market will defo drop in and buy some.

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Next time Iam down that market will defo drop in and buy some.

Me too

[jvs]

13 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Me too

I would love to see you i a "Me too" t-shirt!

[Ralf001]

15 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Me too

 

hoping they have a willy fisterbutt t shirt.... I do not want to send my money to the USA.

 

[billd766]

She has the right to sell what she wants in her country.

 

Nobody is forced to buy them.

 

If the guy being pushed out of the shop is so upset, he has 2 choices.

 

1 He can buy them all and do what he wants with them.

 

2 He can simply walk on by and ignore the shirts, the shop and the owner.

 

What he does NOT have the right to do. is to tell the owner what she can or cannot sell.

[KannikaP]

So many Thais buy and wear T shirts with almost anything written, correct spelling or not,  without them knowing what it says.

 

And most of them will not know who Adolf Hitler was or about the WW2 or Holocaust, maybe a few more Mr Putin.

[Harrisfan]

Gengis Khan shirt be good

[KireB]

I remember the uproar in Thailand when an American firm used a Budha image on a bikini. So, they do understand.

[Serenity_Now]

i wonder when her stock of TRUMP teeshirts will arrive

[KireB]

2 minutes ago, Serenity_Now said:

i wonder when her stock of TRUMP teeshirts will arrive

Careful, lot of posters here adore the sleazeball.

[Harrisfan]

Just now, KireB said:

Careful, lot of posters here adore the sleazeball.

Buy a Hillary shirt 

[Serenity_Now]

3 minutes ago, KireB said:

areful, lot of posters here adore the sleazeball.

well now they know where to go to get a tesshirt that suits their mindset

[Serenity_Now]

4 minutes ago, KireB said:

Careful, lot of posters here adore the sleazeball.

I only said abut the teeshirt helping them in their quest of worship

 

its you who is calling them names 😄

[Mr Meeseeks]

50 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I recall when stalls were selling Osama Bin Laden T-shirts.... 

 

I thought at the time...  there's a segment of society here that is incredibly juvenile and insensitive to world events.

 

Of course, a simple T-Shirt can't harm anyone, but the imagery is powerful and this shows extreme ignorance - instead of defending herself, the vendor should be ashamed and embarrassed, as should anyone who purchases such items.

 

Only a segment?

 

They need a penny whistle sound to know when to laugh. 

[Cameroni]

The world is full of virtue signallers and people who feel their point of view is more important than anyone else's. They need a dose of reality.

 

Good on this woman for standing up to the virtue signaller bullies.

[Serenity_Now]

in the UK i think you may be arrested for certain teeshirts 
most airlines if greeted with that may refuse to let you fly unless you change
Thai authorities may not let you in the country if you show up wearing a depiction of Buddha on a tee shirt
The Company Brandname SURE was told to stop selling such in Thailand.

The shopkeeper may be illiterate (MAYBE) not deflamation.

Teens wearing Nazi teeshirts just think its trendy they have no knowledge

HISTORY becomes more irrellevant as time passes

[johng]

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

standing up to the virtue sginaller bullies.

 

The bloke in the video certainly looks like a bully glad they gave him the elbow.

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 minutes ago, Serenity_Now said:

in the UK i think you may be arrested for certain teeshirts 
most airlines if greeted with that may refuse to let you fly unless you change
Thai authorities may not let you in the country if you show up wearing a depiction of Buddha on a tee shirt
The Company Brandname SURE was told to stop selling such in Thailand.

The shopkeeper may be illiterate (MAYBE) not deflamation.

Teens wearing Nazi teeshirts just think its trendy they have no knowledge

HISTORY becomes more irrellevant as time passes

 

You'd get arrested and jailed for decades for wearing images of certain people on t-shirts in Thailand. 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, chuang said:

Who the fork are these people to order others what to sell...if they don't like they can buy off the products and throw them away..

These people are making a living in their own country if you don't like go back to your country...

Hear, hear!

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Of course, a simple T-Shirt can't harm anyone, but the imagery is powerful and this shows extreme ignorance - instead of defending herself, the vendor should be ashamed and embarrassed, as should anyone who purchases such items.

...in your opinion.  Those who buy the shirts have exactly the same rights as you to have opinions, whether or not you arrogantly describe them as "extremely ignorant".

[Cameroni]

7 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

You'd get arrested and jailed for decades for wearing images of certain people on t-shirts in Thailand. 

 

Certainly not Putin. You can wear a Putin T-Shirt all day long anywhere on earth except Ukraine. So God knows what these people are on about.

[johng]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

I recall when stalls were selling Osama Bin Laden T-shirts.... 

 

Yeah because Osama was "uncle Sam's" best friend  till he wasn't 

just like  Muammar Gaddafi and  Saddam Hussein  !!

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Of course, a simple T-Shirt can't harm anyone, but the imagery is powerful and this shows extreme ignorance - instead of defending herself, the vendor should be ashamed and embarrassed, as should anyone who purchases such items.

...in your opinion.  Those who buy the shirts have exactly the same rights as you to have opinions, whether or not you arrogantly describe them as "extremely ignorant".

 

Good luck on your next Hitler T-shirt shopping spree....   

[jvs]

Haven't seen many of these lately.