James H. W. Thompson was an American architect and art collector who practiced architecture in New York in the 1930s and became interested in stage and costume design as a director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Captivated by Thailand and its culture, particularly the art of hand‑woven Thai silk, with its remarkable range of colours and textures, he dedicated his life to organizing a network of artisans, helping to upgrade their looms, introducing new techniques and designs, thereby enabling Thai weavers to create silks that would dazzle the world. Jim Thompson fabrics soon won a devoted following among interior designers, couturiers and creators of costumes for stage and screen. By the 1960s, Thai silk had become world-renowned, creating a luxury craft industry that benefited thousands of Thai families.