Fashion editor Siri Udomritthiruj says colourful pens help her relax and give her inspiration.

The Loft touts its imported stationery in a designing frenzy - for a good cause

A bevy of celebrities and artists took up the challenge last week to personalise desks with Japanese stationery at Bangkok's Loft store.

They quickly selected products from the shelves, saw their mission through and then snacked on Japanese treats.

Siri Udomritthiruj, the editor-in-chief at Elle magazine's Thai edition, wanted a desktop that would offset the stress of her job, so she chose stationery and pens in soothing hues.

"I also use colour to express my feelings," she said behind an array of pink, green and yellow erasers and notebooks of all hues.

"For instance, red refers to anger and blue is useful when I'm stressed. It's too boring just using a black pen."

Tipchan Hastin na Ayudhya, a stylist agent at Leo Burnett, called her desk creation "Note Mania". Shunning computers, she still writes everything on notepads.

"This may be a paperless age, but I still think handwriting is charming," she said.

Messy desk

In a similar vein, Sujima Viravaidya, the art director at Eco Icon, made a "Desk for a Card Maker". She prefers writing by hand to e-mail and, bucking the accepted wisdom, she finds a messy desk inspirational.

Chaiporn Panichruttiwong of Vithita Animation clipped out a spider shape in honour of his favourite comic-book hero, "Spider-Man".

And Savika "Pinky" Chaiyadej, who's been entertaining people since she was eight years old, made a "Lover's Notebook" - everything in pairs. "It reflects my own lifestyle: It looks simple, but it's sweet!"

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Helping the kids

>> Part of the proceeds from stationery sales goes to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Child and Youth in Remote Areas Development Fund.

>> The desks are on display until Sunday at the Loft on the third floor of Siam Discovery.