Arts Décoratifs to Showcase Queen Sirikit’s Royal Thai Style Legacy in Exhibition

Fashion as a form of influence was masterfully embodied by Queen Sirikit of Thailand, who passed away on October 24 at 93. Her legacy will be honored in the exhibition Royal Thai Dress: From Tradition to Modernity, running from May 13 to November 1 at the Muse des Arts Dcoratifs in Paris.

Queen Sirikit, mother of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, spent her early years across Thailand, London, and Paris, skillfully combining Western fashion, Eastern customs, and Thailands vibrant textile heritage. Her first significant royal tour of Europe in 1960 marked the beginning of her transformation of Thai royal attire, a mission she carried through until stepping back from public life in 2012.

The exhibition showcases over 100 garments and accessories from the royal collection, highlighting the nations textile artistry. Curated by Batrice Quette, head of the museums Asian collections, the display includes eight traditional Thai national dress styles designed by Queen Sirikit in the 1960s with the collaboration of historians and Thai designers.

A key feature of the show is the cultural exchange between Thailand and France, exemplified by the queens collaboration with French designer Pierre Balmain, who incorporated Thai silk into his collections and worked closely with the embroidery house Lesage. The exhibition is presented in partnership with Bangkoks Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, founded in 2012, and the Sustainable and Craft Institute of Thailand.

This Parisian showcase aligns with upcoming commemorations of 340 years since Frances first contact with the Kingdom of Siam in 2025 and the 170th anniversary of Thai-French diplomatic relations in 2026, offering visitors a rich perspective on the queens enduring influence on fashion and cultural heritage.

Author: Benjamin Carter