Celebrating 50 Years of Thai Design: A Week of Unity, Innovation and Sustainability

This year marks a significant milestone for Thai Design Distributors Ltd. - our 50th anniversary.

Half a century of operations, growth and commitment to quality is no small achievement, and we were thrilled to celebrate this legacy with a week-long program that honours our past, embraces the present, and looks optimistically towards the future.

Whilst our official 50th birthday landed earlier in the year, we chose to delay the celebration until June to coincide with a special visit from Danielle, the Sales Account Manager at our UK office. This decision allowed us to unite team members from opposite sides of the globe to share their celebrations here at our crafting facility in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Thai Design Legacy that Spans Generations

For those of you who don’t know, Thai Design was founded in 1975 when two young people named Lilia and Bill met one another at university in Malaysia. They were both from Thailand, and sharing a common wanderlust, headed West together after graduating from their studies. Bill and Lilia hitchhiked through India, the Middle East and Europe, stopping in England momentarily for a breather before heading onwards to the United States. Incredibly, they spent their first night in the UK at the Thai Embassy in London, where a friend snuck them in and offered them a place to sleep. Lilia and Bill loved London so much, they decided to stay.

It was hard for the young couple to find jobs, so Lilia’s father began sending handicrafts from Bangkok for them to sell in the UK. Nothing really worked – until he shipped over some silver jewellery. The high-quality craftsmanship was exceptional, and at such a low price. A shop-keeper in London suggested that Lilia and Bill should become a wholesaler – and so Thai Design Distributors Ltd. was born.

Originally, Thai Design’s jewellery production was centred in Bangkok, but the outsourcing of work caused issues and delays. Keen to consolidate all manufacturing steps beneath one roof, Lilia and Bill invested in a purpose-built craft facility in Chiang Mai, a centre of exceptional craftsmanship in Thailand. Some of the same staff that moved from Bangkok to

Chiang Mai with us still work in the business today. A few have even welcomed their children to the team, which we are very proud of.  Likewise, Lilia and Bill’s own daughter Kim joined the family business over 20 years ago.

Thai Design - and the industry - have changed a lot over the years. But whilst the shape of our business continues to evolve, the strength of our craftsmanship and relationships remain the unfaltering pillar of what we do.

A Morning of Reflection and Blessing

The key day of our anniversary celebrations began not with fanfare, but with peace and tranquility. Dressed in white – the colour of purity – the Thai Design team gathered bright and early to receive blessings. Doing so is a deeply important aspect of Thai culture, and an opportunity for us to collectively begin this momentous day feeling positive and protected. As a light rain began to fall and we sought shelter beneath tents, an unexpectedly serene atmosphere settled upon us.

At 8.30am, we welcomed nine Buddhist monks and a group of children from Wat Don Chan, a temple in central Chiang Mai that also runs an orphanage housing over 700 children, from toddlers to teenagers. This visit was more than ceremonial. Since some of the worst flooding in history hit the region last year, we’ve felt a deeply personal connection to the temple’s work. We first visited the orphanage last November with donations of clothes, blankets and shoes – and have felt the children in our minds and hearts ever since. Despite different backgrounds, all young people share a common need for safety, care, and opportunities to grow. We were honoured to welcome the people of Wat Don Chan as guests, and grateful for the support from our staff.

The morning began with a traditional almsgiving - staff offering dry goods, water and even home-cooked meals. The monks then chanted blessings, bringing a sense of peace and reflection to all. Afterwards, we presented pre-prepared donations for the children - essential items like toiletries, stationery, clothing and food – as a small but meaningful gesture to support the temple’s ongoing work.

SUPPORT WAT DON CHAN

The spirit of gratitude continued as we gathered at our two spirit houses to offer food, incense and prayers for protection and wellbeing. Spirit houses, known as san phra phum, are miniature shrines built to house the spirits believed to inhabit a particular location. Ours were built when the crafting facility was first constructed by Kim’s parents in the 1970s, providing a dwelling for protective spirits or ancestors to ensuring the future wellbeing of Thai Design’s staff.

With hearts full and spirits grounded, we resumed work for a few hours, before reconvening for an afternoon defined by celebration, vision, and joy.

 

Embracing Change: New Era, New Logo, New Uniform

At 1pm, we gathered for one of the most anticipated moments of the day: the unveiling of Thai Design’s new logo and uniforms.

Led by our Sales Support team member Lalin, a presentation explored the meaning behind our fresh visual identity. The new logo, which operates parallel to our time-honoured ‘T’ emblem, was inspired by a casting tree used in the creation of Bliss Lau’s 18ct Fairmined Gold rings - a nod to the heart of our craft.

Each of the eight rings in the casting tree symbolises a core value that connects us:

-        Growth through continuous learning and innovation

-        Craftsmanship rooted in skill and tradition

-        Contribution to society and the planet

-        Vocation and the joy of meaningful work

-        Wealth through quality, not excess

-        Pride in our professional standards

-        Relationships that form the bedrock of our business

-        Passion for creating jewellery that tells stories

The design is grounded in the Japanese concept of Ikigai - a guiding principle that encourages a life of purpose, joy, and balance.

To complement this refreshed identity, we introduced a new uniform made from recycled materials by CIRCULAR, a Thai company that transforms textile waste into sustainable fabrics. From Monday to Thursday, our team will wear embroidered navy blue polos. On Fridays, we honour our roots with a special shirt inspired by local tie-dye traditions and hand-woven Chiang Mai textiles - a beautiful balance of modern values and cultural heritage.

Distributing the uniforms was a symbolic gesture of pride and appreciation. At the heart of Thai Design is our people. Our teams are the backbone of everything we do, and this celebration was an opportunity for us to demonstrate our gratitude by clothing our team in shared purpose and an identity to feel excited about.

In line with Thai Design’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, all old uniforms were collected, weighed, and recycled by SC GRAND, a Thai company dedicated to transforming discarded textiles into new materials and products.

“More than 79 billion cubic meters of water are used to grow cotton and dye textiles. This amount is equal to 32 million Olympic standard-sized swimming pools. By recycling waste from the textile industry - including threads from weaving factories, fabric scraps from garment factories, post-consumer waste and waste from other industries - into new fabrics, we help reduce the need of using natural resources to produce new raw materials.” – SC GRAND

A Week of Colour, Creativity and Connection

Leading up to the unveiling of our new logo and uniforms – in the interim between recycling the old and welcoming the new – staff united by dressing in an elected colour each day. Our crafting facility was transformed into a vibrant celebration of joy and togetherness; a visual reminder that creativity and connection are at the heart of Thai Design.

Other highlights of our 50^th anniversary celebrations included:

• A jewellery design competition to spotlight talent across our team

• A team games session that fostered laughter and connection across departments

• A time capsule activity, inviting staff to contribute hopes and memories for the next 50 years

• An improvement brainstorming session, encouraging ideas from every level of the company - because evolution starts from within

As the sun set, the festivities moved into a celebratory dinner and fashion show – a parade of our new uniforms and the personalities behind them. There were heartfelt speeches, surprise recognitions, and meaningful moments shared amongst colleagues and friends.

A particularly significant highlight was the introduction of custom recognition badges, now awarded to team members in honour of their skills, commitment and unique contributions to Thai Design’s journey. It was a moment of pride, reflection, and deep gratitude.

As we celebrate this most meaningful milestone, we’re filled with gratitude. To our team, past and present: Your passion and dedication have built this legacy.

To our partners around the world: Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration.

Here’s to 50 years of unity, innovation, and impact - and to all the decades of craftsmanship, connection, and shared purpose that lie ahead.