My wife Jeane is in the process of setting up a new dental office - she just bought a building and is planning on refurbishing it with an Asian theme. One of the things she wants to do when we stop over in Bangkok next April is to pick up some silk fabric for some throw pillows for the sofa/chairs in her reception area. As a reception area gets a lot of traffic, the silk would have to be "institutional" quality i.e. sturdy. Does anyone have an idea of where she could look for this in Bangkok? Do they have such things as showrooms for the design trade? Note that she does not feel that Jim Thompson-type silk will stand up to the rigors of day-to-day use in a dentist waiting room. Any ideas?

Craig, Jim Thompson does carry decorator fabrics, very heavy silks and silk blends. I've purchased silk upholstery fabric from JT in the past, and it has worn very well. She should talk with a salesperson at JT about what she needs and ask for recommendations.

I don't know whether Shinewatra carries upholstery grade fabrics or not, but they are another option (again, I'd ask for a knowledgeable salesperson). I also have a favorite spot in River City for heavy Chinese Silk brocades. I'm not sure if these would meet her needs or not.

I expect Hanuman would know about design showrooms. He's currently in Paris.

By the way, one year (probably 20+ years ago) I purchased very heavy raw silk and used it to cover dining room chairs and used another color for a bench. That fabric wore like iron! I have no idea where I bought it, though.

I would ask one of the hotels where they get their heavy-duty silk from since about everything (furniture) is done in silk at many hotels in Thailand. Happy Travels!

we went to almeta and they had all colours and all types of different ply very ggod qulaity too. they have their own web site.

The Jim Thompson outlet store has an enormous selection. And it would be great to shop for pillows because they sometimes have small amounts left of a particular fabric and I believe they lower the price on those.

We bought heavy silk that would be suitable in the JT outlet store - would have cost us a fortune in London
BB

Yes, JT, has heavy duty silk. They use it for furniture. Happy Travels!

Ok, Jeane has read your responses and says that what she is looking for is someone that can send her samples (preferably solids) that she can choose from and then make the pillows to her specifications so we can just pick them up when we get there. Any further suggestions?

Have you seen this site? Check out the fabric section

http://www.jimthompson.com/index.asp

Maybe calling might get you some swatches sent your way.

Does Jeane's buying a building means you get to retire? lol

Aloha!

the soi 93 outlet 'might' help....you could contact them...

almeeta (sp) is another alternative

but perhaps the best alternative is paya....i will dig out their address which is something like soi 53, sukhumvit....we had a fouton cover made there...they have tons of samples...

hanuman will be a good source also...he is in london at the moment, but i will ask him to contact you...

found it: paya...handwoven fabrics and accessories for the home....

now located off of soi 63, sukhumvit on soi 63-5 just before the esso station...

about 1/2 way between sukhumvit and new phetbury rd---opposite toa paint store to be exact...

tel: 02-711-4457

i have this old e mail address:

[email protected]