Joanna James
Shopping for textiles in Bangkok can be a tedious task with many vendors claiming to sell the best quality. There are of course places to buy excellent silks and other fabric in the 'City of Angels'.
Just the place for fabric lovers the Pahurat Textile Market in Little India is home to vendors selling vibrantly coloured fabrics that are ideal for domestic tailors and those planning do it yourself projects. Mind you the market is not the place to go looking for flashy fabrics or high quality textiles. Instead if you want good quality printed material do take time to browse the market.
Come Thai is the largest store amongst the 300 shops located at Amarin Plaza. A must visit for vibrant fabrics of high quality the store stocks the best quality scarves at very competitive prices. Chic designs covering printed fabrics to quilts are available here while the classy designs and colours are sure to appeal to the trendiest of shopper. Amarin Plaza is located at Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan and is open daily from 10.30 am to 9.30 pm. If you are taking the BTS Skytrain the Plaza is not far from the Chit Lom station.
This is one of the world's largest open air markets and one that's on any Bangkok travel guide. Chatuchak is home to over 15,000 retail stores. Covering an astounding 35 acres the market is quite vast and ideal for finding a variety of fabrics; head over to sectors eight and ten for a wide selection of textiles. Just 23 minutes from Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort the market occupies a sector on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road.
Plenty of attractive fabrics are available in large quantities and designs at this store. It is not the place to buy Thai Silks though. However the place is a mecca for a variety of textile designs and colours. Located indoors, China World Fabric is ideal to beat the midday heat and stock up on some quality fabrics.
Chinatown is virtually a shopper's paradise where anything from electronics to jewellery is freely available. Head over to Sampeng Lane and you will be fascinated by the wide variety of fabrics for sale. Get off the boat at Ratchawong Pier and move forward until you stumble upon the crowds and vibrantly coloured fabrics on display. Make sure to visit during day time as vendors tend to close shop by evening to accommodate the 'foodie street' that Sampeng Lane turns into by nightfall.
The Jim Thompson Museum is an iconic attraction in Bangkok while those of you on a scout for top quality silk should make their way to the factory outlet. There you can purchase the best in Thai Silks; Jim Thompson being the legend behind quality Thai silk. The store is located in front of the Bang Chak BTS Skytrain station and is open from 9 am to 6 pm daily. Do visit the museum for interesting insights to the founder's life story, mysterious disappearance, love for Bangkok and legend behind his creation of top quality Thai silks.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
