Jim Thompson, namesake of Jim Thompson fabrics, was born in 1906 into an affluent family in Delaware, he attended Princeton and then The University of Pennsylvania for architecture. In the 1940’s, Thompson took full time residence in Thailand, at a time when few foreigners were in the country. In addition to his large eccentric personality, he is know for rebuilding the Thai silk industry and generating world wide demand for it. Today the company makes some of the finest, most luxurious, unique and innovative fabrics available.
His Thai house was made into a museum and a highlight of my trip to Bangkok. Every square inch of Thompson’s home is a sensual treat.
Pictured below, from Jim Thompson’s Fall 2012 collection: “Folio” a sheer fabric with an Ikat pattern created with the latest laser-cut technology:
