The Thai Silk Company (Jim Thompson) is the world’s largest producer of hand-woven fabrics with last year’s revenue over 2,500 million baht. The company’s remarkable growth stems from the concept of running a silk business based on sustainability through the stability of employment with favourable conditions for the local labour market and the distribution of income to the communities around the upcountry factories.

Nowadays, Jim Thompson has more than 3,000 employees many of whom have joined the company since the first generation members of their families. Additionally, a lot of small local producers in sericulture, silk thread production, weaving etc. are delighted to supply their products to the Company under a long-term contract.

Similar to other businesses in the world, Jim Thompson’s silk business went through critical periods and faced several obstacles in the late 70s. The visionary management team coupled with the unmatched employee capability undoubtedly empowered the Company to overcome these difficulties whilst leveraging production quality to international standard and improving the morale and the etiquette of its employees. Most importantly, the emotional bond between Jim Thompson and the thousand “Invisible Hands” has been deeply entwined ever since, from “Hands that grow the Mulberry tree”, “Hands that raise silkworms”, “Hands that supply silkworms to farmers”, “Hands that select silk cocoons”, “Hands that pull silk thread”, “Hands that spin silk yarn”, “Hands that control the spinning wheel”, “Hands that dye silk thread”, “Hands that lay the offset printing press”, “Hands that print the design”, “Hands that paint the colours” to “Hands that weave folk art into silk”.

Jim Thompson’s large-scale weaving factory over 300 rais of land in Amphoe Pakthongchai, Nakhon Ratchasima was built to be a place to pull, spin, dye and weave silk thread, to print the designs and to produce various kinds of silk-related products. This clearly reflects the interwoven relationship between Jim Thompson and the “Invisible Hands” in various fields. To achieve the highest quality, the factory uses only cutting-edge machinery with the most advanced technology for the production of fabric-related products and several kinds of machinery were even created by the Company. As an environmental-friendly factory, the activities of the entire operation are performed in accordance with the ISO 14001 Environment Management Standard whereas the working environment and welfare of the employees is cared for and very well-maintained. In addition, “Baan Kasirathara” or “Baan Sai Tharn Nam Nom”, was set up as a center to promote breastfeeding amongst factory employees and to award scholarships to the employees’ children every year. Meanwhile, nearby farmers are also supplied with silkworm eggs free of charge since this will encourage them to raise and sell silk cocoons back to the Company for additional income.

In 1998, Jim Thomson expanded its production base to the poorest province in Thailand, Phayao, and became the pioneer in creating new job opportunities for local people ever since. At present, the number of Jim Thompson’s employees at Phayao factories in Amphoe Tha Sala and Amphoe Chaingkam including local outsourcing is over 400.

For Jim Thompson, one crucial factor that has successfully concreted its leadership position in the Thai silk industry over the decades from the past to the present is the synergy effect of “Invisible Hands” from the management team, employees to all local workers. With the Company’s highly efficient operation to ensure quality consistency in every step, every single product by Jim Thompson is uniquely captivating with the highest quality, style and refinement. Simply speaking, Jim Thompson has built a bridge of success from the starting point to the finish and from Thai farmers to end users worldwide. And this is the origin of the world class Thai brand.

Join us in the discovery of Jim Thompson’s journey to success at the media-based exhibition “Invisible Hands: Weaving Folk Art into Silk – The People behind Jim Thompson” at Jim Thompson Art Center, Soi Kasemsan 2 from August 25 – November 16, 2008.

For enquiries, contact Jim Thompson Art Center
Tel: +66 (0) 2612 6741, (0) 2219 2911

For more information please contact:
Khun Sirirat Rattanakajornsakul – The Thai Silk Company Limited
(Jim Thompson)
Tel: +66 (0) 2762 2562

EDUCATION PROGRAM
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
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