Jim Thompson goes 'Wild' in Bill Bensley collab

Jim Thompson has joined creative forces with architect, interior designer, artist and landscape architect Bill Bensley to launch Wild, an exclusive collection inspired by the wildlife and stories of the rainforests in Southeast Asia.

The collaboration brings together Bensley’s imaginative visual language and Jim Thompson’s textile expertise and craftsmanship. Ella the Elephant, Douglas the Dhole, Tony the Tiger and Ollie the Owl are among the imagined characters by Bensley, whose personalities and markings recur throughout the collection. Created during the pandemic, the artworks have been transformed into menswear, womenswear, silk scarves, bags and home decor, bringing the spirit of the wild into everyday life.

Bensley’s association with Jim Thompson began with his restoration of the gardens at the Jim Thompson House, marking the start of a longstanding creative relationship rooted in a shared appreciation of craft, design and experimentation. Their recent collaborations include the 2026 Wild Collection by Bill Bensley for Jim Thompson Home Furnishings and now Wild, which extends his artistic vision into fashion and accessories.

The collection moves between statement pieces and relaxed silhouettes. Colour-blocking, contrasting stripes and piping frame the prints, while animal markings and forest imagery appear as all-over patterns, individual motifs and playful accents. 

The men’s line includes Hawaiian linen shirts finished with contrast piping at the sleeves and hems, as well as all-over-print linen jackets and matching pants featuring Bensley’s densely layered rainforest scenes. Striped lining at the pants hems creates a playful reveal when they are turned up.

Striped linen shorts introduce flashes of forest prints, while Aquasilk swim trunks depict the rainforest’s animal community in vivid colour combinations. T-shirts place individual animal characters against black, white, navy and forest-green backgrounds, with one design featuring the bold “Jim Thompson Goes Wild” statement on the back for a playful, expressive touch.

The women’s line uses silk twill and lightweight habotai for belted kaftans, wide-leg pants, blouses, shorts and flowing maxi dresses in colourful botanical and wildlife prints.

Further pieces include a black-and-white animal print silk-twill kaftan, a vivid forest-print kaftan and an asymmetric cotton-poplin shirt featuring Bensley’s detailed guinea fowl illustration.

The collection extends beyond fashion into accessories and products for the home. Silk scarves showcase Bensley’s intricate compositions, while totes and pouches combine printed linen with embroidery, patchwork and leather trim. The home collection includes printed linen placemats, napkins, cushions, fringed coasters and tea towels. Selected cushions feature embroidered details, including the message “Rewild the World”. All proceeds from the collection go to fund the salaries of urgently needed armed wildlife rangers protecting the Southeast Asian rainforests.