EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Schle Woodthanan Managing Director

The advancement of science and technology during the last ten years, especially at the turn of the century, is so amazing that I feel regretful sometimes that I should have gone to the school of science instead of textile. Wait, please don't misunderstand that I have an adverse attitude against my profession. Nevertheless, as one can notice, it is almost a way of life nowadays that many people have mobile phone changed every six months, or discard an old and clumsy laptop every year. In automobile industry, new models are coming out with highly sophisticated functions being made simple by fascinating technology. In a year or two from now we may expect good news of medicine which can cure cancers. The progress of genome technology will result in offering better and longer life to mankind.

What else from science nano-technology, superconductivity, clean energy, space exploration. A lot more to name. Then come back to textile, particularly home textile, the business that I live on. Is there any good news or advancement? Is home fabric still a piece of cloth for shading the windows or covering a sofa? Are the designs and colors the only know-how for juggling out new collections years after years? Is our industry so simple and boring that we all are struggling just for survival under the threat of cheap quality from elsewhere? Will there be one day that the cheap and copied products flood the market and leave no space for innovative ideas and creativity? Is the world going backward in just our industry while the rest is advancing? Of course, I am optimistic in our industry. I believe there must be a way to be competitive. There must be a way to convince the market and turn on the consumers.