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 I have been purchasing Jim Thompson fabric forever, I love it.  However, I never knew what happened to the man after his career in reviving the Thai Silk Fabric Trade in the earlier half of the 20th century.  I do not purchase his silk fabrics due to their nature of the nature in Maine - I appreciate them - but, I buy his linens and cottons for residential use - more user friendly here.  

Turns out that Jim escaped his WASPY roots by enlisting in the service during WWII.  Fluent in the french language - probably due to his St. Paul's schooling - this helped him greatly behind enemy lines in German-occupied France.  After discharge, he returned to America to enlist his wife to live their life in Thailand, she divorced him.

OK, this is an all American guy, totally absorbed in fabric and making a go of it in Thailand in the "1940's"...go figure.  Here we go again - another canopy chair!  Didn't I recently blog about the Canopy Chair....let's play catch up!

OK, so Mr. Jim was probably one of the leaders in sustainability as far as "green" goes.  He raised thousands of Thailand's poorest people out of poverty, making millionaires out of his core group of weavers by giving them shares in his Thai Silk Company.  He also allowed his weavers, of whom, were many women, to work hours that would be conducive to also raising a family.  By allowing them to work at home, choosing their hours and looking after their children while weaving, they retained their position in the household while becoming breadwinners.  Cool dude and way before his time!  BTW I love the detailing on the back of this chair - will someone let me do this for you?  Please?

So, now the conclusion of the Jim Thompson story.  Seems he left to go out for an afternoon hike and never returned in the 60's.  No bones ever found to date - he just vanished.  Very interesting for a guy who seemed to love his craft so much.  His legacy lives on through the Jim Thompson House.   This is a fabric designed by a guy who truly did not fit the mold but, gave so much to us and therefore got the job done!

I love his fabric!  This one can be reversed which is totally cool!