Beatrice and Toni from BeatOn - Edgy Styled Macrame made with the Music

BeatOn - Contact

Hey Guys so tell us your Koh Phangan story?
We came the first time to visit Koh Phangan in 2008, we came down from Kanchanaburi with friends in their car.

They were asking us to go to the beach and we had never been to Koh Phangan so they proposed that we all go in their pick up as they had twins so we could kind of act as babysitters in the car.

One friend was driving and we would take care of the second baby. It was a Swiss guy and his partner, a Thai lady.

This was also our first Songkran in Thailand! We got to do it in the pick up!

We spent one month here, we were expecting to go somewhere else but we couldn't move. We were based in Sri Thanu, Haad Chao Pao area and yeah, this was our first time here.

Then in 2009 we came back again, with the pick up and with our friends, we were addicted already, there is something magic on the island, we came back every year since.

So when did you decide to make the permanent move?
In 2011 we decided to quit Switzerland for a long trip, this was a travelling trip.

For the first nine months we were going around to Laos and all of the North of Thailand and then in November 2012 a Thai lady asked us if we wanted to be part of a small bar called ‘Butterfly Bar’ in Madhuwan, Phangan.

(Beatrice says this is not important in the story but Toni insists that yes it is as this is how the macrame started…)

The business fell down unfortunately and we thought about what we should do. I was already thinking of doing macrame on our travels and we had already sold small pieces.

We knew we wanted to stay on Koh Phangan and the macrame business was almost the best solution, so when the bar didn’t work, this is when we started to really produce macrame.

(Toni began first, Beatrice was drawing and painting)

In August 2013, we were away for a two month holiday in Indonesia where I did my divemaster course and at this time Beatrice was waiting, I was diving so this is when she also started to do macrame.

The real start up was September 2013, we were both making pieces and so started to produce our first big collection.

What do you get from it personally, what do you enjoy about macrame?
It’s addictive, the result at the end of the day.

The handwork and the glory of what you do in the day is on your hands. It is not like working on a helpdesk, you see the result that you do by yourself and understand the time it takes.

It’s also about the stones because they are fascinating, and when you work with a beautiful stone then for sure you become an addict.

Do you believe in the power of stones or is it more aesthetic for you?
The stones have a value, you can buy ten stones now and if the mining of them is finished then the value will go ten to one hundred times more.

Every stone has a gift and power but we don't work with this.

And we love stones for sure. The aesthetic is what we work with the most.

What do you notice about people who are into the healing powers of stones when they buy or wear your pieces?
Somebody can ask, I have noticed that you can find this or that stone is better for pain or self confidence, or love or pregnancies etc.

People who believe in that, I can help but this almost can be a contradiction as one internet site may say this or that, and different people will say different things.

But in the end I don’t think any stone is bad for you.

People come to us as they are attracted by the stone, they say ‘this one called me’ this happens many times.

I notice a certain style and theme in your work with colour etc is this conscious?
Yes, we don't like work with too much colour, we are now adding some colours so we can add a bit of ‘freshness’ and try to mix it up, but really ‘ours’ is the black.

Black is more sober, we don’t really like something coloured, but it depends also on the colour of the stone. If the stone is black itself then we can use a more clear thread.

Where did the name ‘BeatOn’ come from?
We like music and I think BeatOn was the concept of this, ‘beat on’ let it beat on and let THE beat on...

After nearly one year we then realised it was the first three letters of our names put together.

Wow, afterwards?! That’s magic!

So what are your main projects at the moment?
BeatOn is a ltd company and now our friend has proposed to us to share space in his shop so we will have a base to sell from.

Our internet site is growing also, this will be ready in July or August.

We want to stay as long as possible, the plan was already that if we save money we can do two years but now it has been three and a half because of our work.

We are selling more and more stuff, it’s just the beginning.

What do you enjoy about the island in your free time?
We like for sure the Thai food, we have the best noodle shop near Thong Sala, aah it’s the best one.

We like also the Isaan food place after the bridge on the way to the hospital, a small wooden restaurant with the best Isaan food ever!

We like palm beach in Ban Tai and we cook a lot at home also.

We party sometimes, go to Backyard. Halfmoon used to be our favourite but they went up in price so it is too much for us, anyway we have much less time for parties now.

We like to simply drink a beer on the beach at Two Rock Bar and Chill Up.

And what our your life philosophies?
Don't dream your life, live your dream and dream big!