After serving as an American military officer in World War II, Jim Thompson settled in Bangkok, Thailand. 

He was captivated by the country and its culture, particularly the art of hand-woven silk with its remarkable range of colours and textures. 

At that time, however, the craft of silk weaving was in steep decline, threatened by machine-made fabrics and the advent of synthetic yarns. Yet, he believed Thai silk would appeal to textile lovers in America and Europe, whose patronage could support local weavers and silk farmers in an era when economic opportunities were limited in a developing country such as Thailand.

Thompson dedicated his life to organizing a network of artisans, helping to upgrade their looms, introducing new techniques and enabling Thai weavers to create silks that would dazzle the world.

By 1950 he had founded The Thai Silk Company, majority-owned by Thais, aimed in part as sustaining the traditional livelihoods, culture and dignity of local weavers and silk farmers. Today, the company employees over 3,000 people.

In 1967 Thompson disappeared while walking alone in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia. He was never been seen again.