The history of the export of Thai silk during the twentieth century has been one of great ups and downs, and is often clouded by inaccurate of nonexistent data. For instance, export figures for finished silk do no exist until the post-war years, but earlier data concerning export of raw silk will suffice to illustrate the industry’s plunges. While in 1990, raw silk worth 141,468 baht was exported, in the 1930′s this figure fell to less than 500 baht. Similarly, the export of Thai silk has undergone similar fluctuations since it began to figure prominently around 1950, when half a million baht was earned in foreign export.

During the 1950′s, Thai silk followed a rather steady upswing and then leaped in the early 1960′s into the 20 to 30 million baht per year rang. This can be attributed to promotion of the fabric by Her Majesty the Queen, who included dresses fashioned of Thai silk in her world tour wardrobe in 1961. By the following year, 1962, export of Thai silk was earning 26.6 million baht per year. This figure further increased in 1963 to 34 million baht, a gigantic leap from the figures of the 50′s -all considerably below ten million baht.

Apart from earning much-needed foreign exchange for the country and aiding in decreasing Thailand’s overall trade deficit, the export of Thai silk figures prominently in other areas. It is, for instance, instrumental in the development of the underdeveloped and underemployed Northern region, where very limited sericultural techniques and little marketing knowledge are gradually being eradicated by technical programs and instructional aid. The growing demand for Thai silk throughout the world can not help but improve the methods and lives of the individual growers and weavers throughout Thailand.

Undoubtedly one of the most stunning and unique textile products available in the world, it has been said the Thai silk is one of Thailand’s most effective ambassadors of goodwill abroad. Carried by most of the leading department stores in America and Europe, and gaining acceptance in other areas of the world, Thai silk implants the name Thailand in the minds of those who choose to wear it and women in over 50 countries of the world correctly do. It also introduces the country itself in the great fashion centers of the world, since leading designers – including Pierre Balmain and Elizabeth Arden- feature it in their collections.

With the efforts of the Government, including the Silk Promotion Committee, and the great strides being made at sericultural research centers such as the one at Korat, improved worm strains and eradication of disease do indeed point to a bright future for the export of Thai silk. As tourism is now the number two industry in Thailand, the “invisible export” of the approximately 180 million baht worth of Thai silk bought annually by tourists must not be neglected either. All these factors combined indicate a sound future for the industry, increased earnings for the nation, the enhancement of the Thai reputation world-wide,- and perhaps most important of all – the economic development of the underprivileged Northern and improved standard of living for the tens of thousands involved in sericulture throughout the region.

Thailand has developed an international reputation for its steel art creations. You may have seen examples of Thai craftmanship online in the form of Life-sized Alien, Predator and Star Wars characters, freestanding and made entirely from scrap metal.The industry began over 15 years ago when independent artists began to create small and basic models from wire, nuts and bolts. Typical examples include stickmen, motorcycles and very basic animal models. Nothing was made commercially and the creation of these statues were merely a hobby practiced by a group of about 12 craftsmen.

The industry changed significantly after the first Predator movie appeared in 1987. By this time, the artists who’d created small statues were in need of a challenge and decided to work together to produce the world’s first scrap metal Predator was created.The manufacturing industry in Thailand had developed sufficiently so that there was an abundance of cheap scrap metal from manufacturers such as Ford Thailand, boat manufacturers, scrapyards and Thai military suppliers.

A group of 5 artists cooperated to produce the first design. It was 1.5 meters tall, took four months to make and required the assistance of 20 other workers who volunteered their time. At the time there was no Internet, computer design programs, resin model collectibles or digital photography. There was only one photograph used when completing the entire design – this was a 1-meter tall poster that was imported from America.

Artists did not sketch design ideas or create detailed construction plans. Instead the building work became a social activity. A wire frame ”scaffolding” was created to show a three-dimensional framework. Artists would rummage through the scrap metal resources they had available and discuss in their group how they believed particular Predator features could be created.

Thais are reputed to avoid conflict and the building process was fun, communal and there was as much drinking as there was constructing. If a particular artist felt that he could improve upon an existing feature, it would be put to a vote within the group.The completed Predator statue was never sold. It was passed between the various workmen for three years until it was donated to charity.

Today Art From Steel, Thailand’s largest manufacturer of hand-crafted steel art work employs 12 full-time members of staff and, when demand is high, can work with over 50 trained welders at once. They have a workshop and a factory and are regularly commissioned for projects as far-ranging as: Alien V’s Predator furniture for bars, scale-replicas of factories, traditional Thai and Buddhist symbols, and novelty gifts.