Tinnart Nisalak, the design director for the Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company, has worked almost exclusively with Thai Silk for over twenty years. Tinnart skillfully applies his extensive experience and knowledge to his creations. He draws on the magnificent attributes of silk to create subtle effects and constantly establishes new benchmarks for the craft. Through his vision, creativity and innovation, Tinnart is among the few top Thai designers who have successfully transformed "Thai Silk" into a truly international designer brand. Today, it is one of the most sought after fine fabric.

Tinnart's introduction to Thai Silk, fabric design and home furnishing is described as being the result of several 'remarkable co-incidences.' Following his graduation from Chulalongkorn University with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture in 1975, Tinnart was undecided about the right career choice to make so he enrolled in the "Experimental Studio", a special graduate program offered by the University of Syracuse in New York. The Experimental Studio exposed him to a wide range of disciplines within the field of art and design including photography and graphic design. It gave him the flexibility he sought. Almost instantly, his professor noted his exceptional talent in design and computer graphics.

Then on one occasion, Tinnart presented his professor with a gift of Jim Thompson Thai silk. The professor deeply impressed with the fine design, encouraged Tinnart to extend his design skills in the area of computer graphics to print and weaving. Back in the 1970s in the United States, a curriculum in textiles and fabric design was virtually unheard of, and in Thailand, it was terrain largely unexplored. Tinnart was one among the first few pioneers to test the waters and blaze the trail. A textile major, Tinnart graduated from Syracuse with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts with First Class Honours.

After graduation, Tinnart wasted no time. He sought his first job with the Jack Lenor Larsen Inc., a prestigious design firm in New York. It was common knowledge that the firm rarely took on new graduates. However the moment Jack Larsen saw Tinnart's designs, he recognized the potential. Tinnart was hired. To gain a better understanding of the company's operations, new recruits were asked to sort through the inventory as part of their orientation. In the process, Tinnart came across a familiar piece of fabric. With its distinctive qualities, Tinnart instantly recognized that it was Thai silk. (According to Tinnart's mother, his flair for design was quite apparent even as a child. She brought him along on her shopping sprees at 'Jim Thompson Thai Silk' and noted that he recognized all of the designs with relative ease.) Jack Larsen explained that the firm had been working in partnership with Jim Thompson to develop home furnishing fabrics, and the famous "Thai Bok" design, which Tinnart came across, was part of the collection.

One day, Tinnart had a chance meeting with a visitor from Thailand. It was totally unknown to Tinnart then that the gentleman was William Booth, one of the founding partners of the Thai Silk Company established by Jim Thompson. Tinnart's future was sealed. Jack Larsen knew that Tinnart was a rare gem, someone he was delighted to have on staff, but he also knew that as a talented, young designer, Tinnart had a bright and promising future ahead of him. In Thailand, there was a far greater opportunity for him to build on his talent and lead in the development of the fabric design industry so Larsen counseled Tinnart and urged him to consider returning home to pursue a future career with Jim Thompson in Thailand.

To date, Tinnart's relationship with Jim Thompson spans 20 long years. Tinnart and his designers and production team have worked incessantly to perfect the art, as well as the technology and the techniques, winning many prestigious international and local awards for the Thai Silk Company and strengthening the "Jim Thompson" Thai Silk branding worldwide.

IN WONDERLAND COLLECTION
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