Jim Thompson was an American architect and art collector born in 1906 and educated at Princeton University. He pursued architecture during the 1930s in New York and later turned his interest to scenic and costume design as director of the Russian Ballet of Monte Carlo.
After serving in the army in World War II he settled in Bangkok, where he became completely captivated by Thailand and its culture, especially the silk work and its incredible colors and textures. Jim Thompson dedicated his life to organizing a network of artisans, helping them to improve their looms, introducing new techniques and designs and thus enabling Thai weavers to create silks that would dazzle the world.
Thanks to his decade in New York, Jim Thompson had personal ties to the world of interior design, fashion, entertainment, art and media that helped him introduce the new fabrics to Europe and America. Jim Thompson's fabrics soon gained a following among interior designers, couturiers and costume creators for both stage and screen. By the 1960s, Thai silk had gained worldwide fame, creating a luxury cottage industry that benefited thousands of families, just as Jim Thompson had envisioned.
In Lantero y Lantero you will also be able to see their collections of fabrics.
