Jim Thompson and Bill Bensley Bring the Spirit of the Southeast Asian Rainforests to Life in the New ‘Wild’ Collection

The exclusive collaboration transforms Bill Bensley’s expressive paintings into fashion, accessories and home decor inspired by the rainforest and its wildlife.

Jim Thompson, the iconic global lifestyle brand from Thailand, has joined 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. Each piece celebrates the beauty and diversity of the wild, its inhabitants and the importance of protecting the natural world.

Southeast Asia’s largest remaining continuous rainforest is interpreted through Bensley’s playful lens in paintings filled with richly layered foliage, vibrant colors and distinctive animal characters. Ella the Elephant, Douglas the Dhole, Tony the Tiger and Ollie the Owl are among the imagined inhabitants 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.

Working across architecture, landscape design, hospitality, interiors and fine art, Bensley is known for imaginative environments rich in color, detail and narrative. The rainforest has become an important subject in his painting, populated by animals with individual identities and stories. Through humor and fantasy, the works draw attention to the lives within the forest and the need to preserve their habitat.

“Bill’s work has an unmistakable energy, with every painting revealing another character or story from the rainforest,” said Frank Cancelloni, Group CEO of Jim Thompson. “This collaboration takes us somewhere unexpected. By bringing Bill’s extraordinary art into fashion and home pieces, Jim Thompson goes wild! It is a bold departure from our usual collections, while still grounded in the craftsmanship and textile heritage at the heart of our brand. Together, we hope to invite people into the extraordinary world of the rainforest and encourage a greater appreciation of its wildlife.”

The collection moves between statement pieces and relaxed silhouettes. Color-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 women’s line uses silk twill and lightweight habotai for belted kaftans, wide-leg pants, blouses, shorts and flowing maxi dresses in colorful 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’.

“This is fashion with a joyful face and a serious heart.” said Bill Bensley. “While the collection celebrates Southeast Asia’s extraordinary wildlife, it also confronts its alarming disappearance. I am donating all proceeds I received from the collection to fund the salaries of urgently needed armed wildlife rangers protecting the Southeast Asian rainforests.”