Historic First: 'Royal Thai Dress on the World Stage' Exhibition Opens in Paris
Thailand's historic Royal Thai Dress exhibition opened in Paris this week, showcasing over 200 pieces including royal gowns and accessories that blend traditional Thai textiles with contemporary design. The collection, developed by Queen Si
The historic exhibition 'La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress from Tradition to Modernity' is now open at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France, from May 13 to November 1, 2025.
In 1960, when King Bhumibol Adulyadej made an official state visit to the United States and European countries, Queen Sirikit conceived the idea of developing the 'Royal Thai Dress' as Thailand's national costume for women. Observing that despite Thailand's beautiful and distinctive clothing culture, there was no clearly defined national dress recognized on the international stage, the Queen incorporated Thai silk and traditional local fabrics rooted in local wisdom, designing them with contemporary elegance. This became a crucial model for promoting Thai identity to international audiences and elevating Thai textiles and handicrafts to global recognition.
Today, this royal vision continues to be preserved and developed by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, who plays a key role in conserving and advancing Thai textiles to the international fashion and contemporary design stage. She serves as patron of the 'Royal Thai Dress on the World Stage' exhibition, presented from May 13 to November 1, 2025, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris through collaboration with the Support Institute for Thai Craft (SACIT), the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
The exhibition celebrates the 340th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 170th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties between Thailand and France (1856–2026). It displays over 200 pieces including royal gowns, skirts, and accessories designed by French designer Pierre Balmain in collaboration with the prestigious Lesage embroidery atelier, alongside Thai designers. The exhibition focuses on the development of royal court dress and its representation on the world stage, featuring ensembles worn by Queen Sirikit, Queen Suthida, and Princess Sirivannavari, along with eight variations of the Royal Thai Dress paired with valuable Thai handicrafts. These showcase the refinement of Thai wisdom and cultural heritage sustained over centuries, and serve as momentum for proposing the 'Royal Thai Dress' as an intangible cultural heritage representative of humanity to UNESCO in 2025.
