Our Story: Efi Haninkes and Fe2 Crystals

From the looms of Laos to the light of crystals.

The story of Efi Haninkes and Fe2 Crystals begins far from Phuket. It runs through fashion, a United Nations textile project, handwoven Lao cloth, home decor in Bangkok and, for the past 12 years, crystals and jewelry in Phuket, today in his gallery at Porto de Phuket. Each stop left something in the pieces you can see there today.

A path that starts far from Phuket

Efi grew up in the United States and knew almost nothing about Laos. His way there began in Paris, with a French-Laotian doctor who showed him Lao textiles. Curious, he set off for Southeast Asia and arrived in a Laos that had only recently opened up after years of isolation.

Laos: learning from the weavers

Few foreigners lived in Laos at the time, and visas were hard to get. Efi worked as a consultant on a United Nations textile development project. He saw a chance to train local artisans and to make contemporary clothing and home furnishings from locally grown cotton and silk. When the consultancy ended he started his own business and took Lao designs to France.

Bangkok: two brands and a change of direction

Efi then settled in Bangkok, where his brands Lao Vilay, “beautiful Laos”, and Thai Vichit, “beautiful Thailand”, became well known. At their height his collections were sold in eight Central Department Stores, and he was featured in publications including Time and the Bangkok Post.

The Asian financial crisis of 1997 pushed him in a new direction. A textile factory owner invited him to design luxury home decor, among it pillows, bedding and curtains. For almost two decades he created collections for homes, and he came to see how good design changes the way people feel in a space.

Phuket: a leap of faith

Twelve years ago Efi moved to Phuket and bought a townhouse at Boat Avenue, years before the area became the destination it is today. Crystals had fascinated him since he was young and he collected them for himself, so opening a gallery was, in his words, a leap of faith.

A close friend, a crystal expert and seasoned traveler, joined him to source rare specimens from South America, Africa and beyond.

Efi Haninkes and Fe2 Crystals today

The gallery chooses pieces for rarity and natural beauty. Each one is mounted on a base made by craftspeople in Chiang Mai from reclaimed wood and hand-forged iron. “Every crystal gets a bespoke base,” says Efi.

Visitors asked for something they could wear, so a jewelry collection followed, from five designers in Thailand and Europe, all set with genuine stones. Most recently Efi has added corners made for men. Many visitors tell us that you do not choose the crystal, the crystal chooses you.

Efi’s own description of what he looks for is short: uniqueness, another dimension, a bohemian feeling in any space.