Avoiding synthetic Thai silk can be as difficult as avoiding rush hour traffic in Bangkok. Discounted malls and a plethora of markets with seemingly beautiful silk cover the city, making shopping for this timeless Thai souvenir that much more problematic. Fret not, as we’ve put together a guide with the six best shops in the City of Angels to purchase Thai silk.
Queen Thai Silk
Queen Thai Silk has 100 percent pure Thai silk that is handwoven to perfection. This shop specializes in dressmaking and makes beautiful dresses in only a matter of days, which is perfect for travelers on the move. The price of an item depends on the material you choose, making this shop accessible for any budget. Queen Thai Silk is located on the ground floor of the Trendy Building and is just a short walk from the BTS Skytrain station Nana.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Chinatown in Bangkok, and China World is one of them. It is here where you will find a wide selection of fabrics and an entire mall dedicated to this textile. If you search hard enough, you will find Thai silk amongst the many shops that call this mall home. The China World Fabric Outlet is located in the Pahurat area.
Exotic Thai is a one-stop shop for all of your Thai souvenir essentials. The best souvenir found here, however, is its huge selection of quality Thai silk. Exotic Thai can be found on the fourth floor of one of the most luxurious malls in Bangkok, Siam Paragon. In addition to the quality silk found here, you can also purchase soaps, lotions, jewelry, home décor, accessories and clothing. Exotic Thai is certainly not cheap, but you are paying for the quality of the silk; quality you will not find in street markets around Bangkok.
Narai Phand has some of the best Thai handicrafts found in the city that originate from villages and regions across Thailand. It strives to aid villagers by purchasing some of their goods and selling them in their shop in Bangkok. This store has been around for 72 years and sells a variety of goods, such as brass and bronze items, ceramics and, of course, Thai silk. Its silk is handmade and hand-painted, with each piece having its own unique and vibrant color. You can also purchase other Thai silk items here, such as skirts, dresses, bags, scarfs and more.
The Jim Thompson Outlet is only one of many silk stores throughout Thailand with this signature name on it. This outlet is the best, however, because of its pricing. Do not let the Jim Thompson House Museum’s souvenir shop prices discourage you, as the outlet store has an even better selection of this famous Thai silk at much lower prices. The Jim Thompson Outlet is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is about a five-minute walk from the BTS Skytrain station Bang Chak.
Located in Bangkok’s old city, or Banglamphu, you will find Taekee Taekon. This gift shop has an assortment of Thai souvenirs. This shop’s postcards is what makes them noteworthy, however, it also has a great variety of Thai textiles from across Thailand, including silk. It also has home decor, children’s toys and clothing.
