the mysterious world of Jim Thompson...

Few famous designers’ lives are as mysterious as the talented Jim Thompson. Gifted from an early age Thompson attended Princeton University, studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently worked designing homes for the East Coast wealthy in the 1940’s.

With the war in Europe intensifying, Thompson volunteered to serve in the United States Army. He eventually was assigned to work in a segment of the C.I.A., which allowed him to travel and see the world including Italy, France and Asia. To prepare for his mission, Thompson undertook rigorous training in jungle survival.

When the war ended Thompson was in awe of the culture and landscape of Thailand and settled in Bangkok. At a time when the ancient process of making silk was all but disappearing, Thompson saw an opportunity to market Thai Silks outside Thailand and opened The Thai Silk Company. By the 1960’s Thompson & his company had helped generate multitudes of other silk companies making silk the countries most preeminent product giving countless jobs and opportunity to the Thai people.

Jim Thompson at his home in Thailand.

Thompson gained more recognition by constructing his impressive house, which his Thai architect & builders made by combining six two hundred year old teak houses, which represented the best of traditional Thai architecture. The home is now a national museum of Thailand and money raised from tours of the Jim Thompson Museum go towards preserving the heritage and culture of Thailand.

A rendering of his home.

Built in traditional Thai style, the Thompson home has steep roofs which arch up towards the sky. The function is that air rises so the height of the roof which keeps the house cool.

inside Thompson's home & museum.

While no one knows what happened, the story goes that in 1967, while traveling to Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands with friends, Jim Thompson disappeared while on a lone trek in the jungle. A massive manhunt ensued, with no clues. Theories range from Thompson being eaten by wild animals to his being carried off by aborigines.

While theories abound regarding what really happened, one thing is true – his legacy lives on in the impact on Thailand’s silk trade.

Thompson’s legacy also lives on through the gorgeous fabric designs his successors at his company The Thai Silk Company are still creating today. We are excited and honored to be representing the line here at perch. in New Orleans.

“Hera” from the 2011 Collection No. 9 designed by Richard Smith for Jim Thompson inspired by the markings of a peacock in an ikat style.

“Apollon” design for Jim Thompson

photographed for Harper's Bazaar Jim Thompson's 09 Collection.

and from our favorite most recent No. 9 Collection... Enter the Dragons

call us at perch. and we'll mail you samples of Jim Thompson fabrics for next project!

504-899-2122