ilk To fashion designers, the very name evokes extravagant lustre and splendour. An exciting, incomparable work of textile are whose soft rustle conjures up images of an unmatched elegance that over the centuries has graced kings and queens, emperors and empresses. After the romans discovered silk, Julius Caesar sported royal purple silk outfits every time he appeared in public, while in Egypt his paramour Cleopatra was equally enamoured of the fabric,

In the early 1960s, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit travelled to the United States, taking with her splendid wardrobe of Thai silk designed by Pierre Balmain. Her voyage marked a trend-setting turning point for Thai silk in the West. Although Thai ladies has been gracefully attiring themselves in traditional silk costumes for centuries, Westerners tended to regrad Thai silk as an exclusive fabri used only during formal occasions. Through Quee Sirikit's example, and with the creative brilliance of both foreign and Thai designers, Thai silk is now used as a medium for everything form evening gowns to hankerchiefs.

The American entrepreneur Jim Thompson is generally deemed responsible for stimulating world-wide interest in Thai silk. In 1964, he took some choice samples to New York, where they were publicised in Vogue magazine. Top designers immediately bought the silk and transformed it into dazzling dresses. Thai silk, however, was at that time only available is small quantities and was in competition with the more celebrated Chinese Japanese and Indian silks.

In 1948, Thompsom founded the Thai Silk Company, thereby beginning the task of revitalising Thailand's silk industry. He enthusiastically promoted the product to tourists by standing in the lobby of the Oriental Hotel with pieces of silk drapped over his arm, enticing colours hard to resist. Thopmson's initial success led to the opening of his first small shop in Bangkok, on Suriwongse Road, As demand for Thai silk increased, the Thai Silk Company appointed agents abroad to attract the attention of designers in America and Europe who were always looking for something unusal and original. Due to Thopmson's endeavours, Thai silk received and extra boost when used for costumes in the film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I" and later, in "Ben Hur". So much publicity was generated that orders raidly began to flow Thompson's way.

A growing demand from tourists for Western-styly garments made out of Thai silk inspired Vera Cykman to establish Star of Siam in 1956. Hers was on of the first companies in Thailand to manufacture ready-to-wear Thai silk apparel. Cykman worked in collaboration with Jim Thompson. She took silk produced by Thampson's weavers and transformed it into stunning suits, dresses and blouses. She opened her first boutque under the staircase of the Oriental Hotel where it remained for 33 years.

Stat of Siam's designs were enomous success. They soon appeared in major department stores in American and Europe and were published in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Vogue and Women's Wear Daily. Today, the company remains a fashion leader in chic, ready-to-wear silk garments, and has several outlets around Bangkok.

In 1979, the famous French designer Pierre Balmian unveiled his spring and summer collection at a charity fashion gala in Bangkok. Seven elegant and distinctive evening creations of Matmi silk were the highlight of his "haute couture" collection. From that time on, Western and Thai designer began to use Thai silk to create garments for casual wear. Once again Queen Sirikit set fashion trends; in 1985, on a visit to America, she wore a wardrobe design by Eric Mortenson of Pierre Balmain. Both day and evening wear were created for Matmi silk which dazzled and impressed her American hosts.

Today, several internationally renowed Thai designers export ready-made silk evening dresses, suits, blouses and accessories to top boutiques throughout the world. Styles and techniques vary from artist to artist, as do the clientele.

For fashion conscious individuals who appreciate the texture of delicate old silk, boasting a uniquelly artistic pattern, nothing can compare to an exclusive item of apparel made from a length of anitique fabric, Designer favor to combining lengths of old Thai silk with contemporary plain silk to make splended jackets and dresses.