Thai textiles, royal fashion and contemporary design have taken centre stage in Paris with the opening of “La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress from Tradition to Modernity,” a major exhibition celebrating the artistry and evolution of Thai dress.
The exhibition is now open to the public at Musée des Arts Décoratifs until 1 November 2026 under the patronage of Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya. The showcase marks the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and France.
Organised through a collaboration between the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand, the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles and the Thai Embassy in Paris, the exhibition explores how fashion and textiles have long served as cultural and diplomatic bridges between the two countries.
Spread across seven galleries, the exhibition features more than 200 items, including royal attire, antique brocade textiles, intricate handicrafts and contemporary fashion pieces by leading Thai designers.
Visitors begin with a gallery tracing 170 years of Thai-French relations through clothing and diplomacy, followed by a section dedicated to the eight styles of traditional royal Thai dress. The display includes outfits worn by Queen Sirikit, Queen Suthida and Princess Sirivannavari, reflecting the evolution of Thai royal fashion across generations.
One of the exhibition’s highlights focuses on royal craftsmanship, showcasing Thai artisanal works such as embroidered fans, handbags and Benjarong porcelain. Another gallery explores Queen Sirikit’s collaborations with French fashion house Balmain and embroidery atelier Maison Lesage, featuring sketches, fabrics and couture embroidery that blend Thai artistry with French haute couture.
The exhibition also spotlights regional Thai weaving traditions and the transformation of mudmee silk into international high fashion.
The final gallery presents embroidery work from the SIRIVANNAVARI label alongside creations by Thai contemporary designers including ASAVA, WISHARAWISH and MESHMUSEUM, offering modern interpretations of Thai identity through fashion.
Photo Facebook: HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, สถาบันส่งเสริมศิลปหัตถกรรมไทย, Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, ผ้าไทยใส่ให้สนุก
