Brands
Pop Mart turns Bangkok into a festive playground with Pop Land
BANGKOK: Thailand has a new festive sensation as Pop Mart rolls out its largest outdoor pop-up event worldwide, transforming Siam Paragon and Siam Center into Pop Land, a bright and irresistibly cute playground for fans of art toys and all things whimsical.
The event brings global soft power to life through a collaboration between Pop Mart Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Siam Paragon. Led by Pop Mart Thailand’s Country general manager Siriporn Phlaengchanthuek alongside TAT deputy governor Apichai Chatchalermkit and Siam Paragon’s managing director Thanaporn Tantiyanon, Pop Land aims to charm visitors of every age. The opening drew a starry crowd, adding even more sparkle to Bangkok’s festive buzz.
Set across more than 1,000 square metres, the installation marks Pop Mart’s biggest outdoor experience yet. It features five immersive zones including Thailand’s first Pop Mart Christmas tree and a giant pink ball pit that promises peak cuteness and peak selfies.
The showstopper is the debut of Mokoko, Pop Mart’s newest fluffy pink character, presented as a towering five-metre figure surrounded by a lively maze in the Pop Land Castle. Fans can also explore limited-edition collections such as the Mokoko Sweetheart Series, Spring Flower Series and Twinkly Fairy Tale Series, as well as rare items long chased by collectors.
Visitors can wander through the dreamlike Pop Land Cascade connecting Siam Paragon to Parc Paragon, or head to Pop Slide: Finding Mokoko at Siam Center, a giant pink ball pit that invites guests to hunt for the character while sinking into a sea of pastel spheres. The Popsicle café adds a sweet touch with playful themed desserts and ice creams inspired by Pop Mart favourites.
Inspired by the original Pop Land concept created in Beijing in 2023, the Thailand edition blends Bangkok’s vibrant pop culture with the magic of childhood joy. Organisers say the experience signals Thailand’s rise as a major global Pop culture destination.
Siriporn Phlaengchanthuek said Pop Land aims to give Thai fans a world of wonder during the festive season and position Bangkok as a must-visit stop for global pop culture enthusiasts.
Pop Land runs at Parc Paragon and Siam Center from 11 November 2025 to 11 January 2026, with special activities planned throughout the holiday period. Fans can follow Pop Mart Thailand on social media for updates on new drops, events and limited-edition surprises.
Brands
Lululemon picks former Nike executive to be its next chief
Heidi O’Neill, who helped grow Nike into a $45 billion giant, will take the top job in September
CANADA: Lululemon has found its next chief executive, and she comes with serious credentials. The athleisure giant named Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO on Wednesday, ending a search that has left the company running on interim leadership since earlier this year. O’Neill will take charge on September 8, 2026, based out of Vancouver, and will join the board on the same day.
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear and sport. The bulk of that time was spent at Nike, where she was a central figure in one of corporate sport’s great growth stories, helping take the company from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global powerhouse. She oversaw product pipelines, brand strategy and consumer connections, and played a significant role in shaping how Nike spoke to athletes around the world. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss. She also brings boardroom experience from Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and Lithia and Driveway.
The board was unequivocal in its enthusiasm. “We selected Heidi because of the breadth of her experience, her demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent,” said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon’s board.
O’Neill, for her part, was bullish. “Lululemon is an iconic brand with something rare: genuine guest love, a product ethos rooted in innovation, and a global platform still in the early stages of its potential,” she said. “My job will be to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.”
Until she arrives, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs, before returning to their previous senior leadership roles once O’Neill steps in.
Lululemon is betting that a Nike veteran who helped build one of the world’s most powerful sports brands can do something similar for an athleisure label that has genuine love from its customers but is still chasing its full global potential. O’Neill has done it before at scale. The question now is whether she can do it again.
