Most tourists who visit Bangkok and want to buy Thai silk head to Jim Thompson. And there is no doubt that Jim Thompson offers high-quality Thai silk that caters to Westeners tastes.
But if you are looking for something more unique, or have a special request, there is another alternative: Almeta. You want 1-ply silk? Or 2-ply silk? Anything until 12-ply silk goes here. You want a certain weight? You request special colors? Different yarns? Pretty much any color can be matched.
Their silk gets produced in North-Eastern Thailand (Essarn), the traditional weaving place of Thailand.
The Almeta silk shop in Bangkok has been around since 1992 and has a solid and loyal customer base, especially among interior artists and designers.
If you just want a silk souvenir from Thailand, pretty much any place will do, but if you are looking for something special and unique, Almeta in Bangkok is probably your best address.
They also have homeware, accessories and lots of lifestyle products that can be seen in their showroom.
I had curtains made for my home, many with many problems both in time it took to produce as well as huge delays to hang. 5 years later the silk has begun to shred in many places and mold has grown on another one meter panel. Although silk is a natural product and vulnerable for that reason, there were simply too many problemw with Almeta silk and service. Almeta replaced (with reluctance) most of the faulty silk, but in the end I am still left with shredding curtains and a molded panel which will eventually also be left with holes. Having curtains also made with Jim Thomnpson silk, I would definitely recommend . I expect JT fabric to last at least 10 years, while Almeta silk has not lasted quite 5.
Hi Simmonsk,
thanks for sharing your experiences.