Thai royal fashion takes centre stage in Paris exhibition
An exhibition celebrating the evolution of Thai royal dress and its global influence will open in Paris next month, marking key milestones in relations between Thailand and France.
The exhibition, titled “La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress — From Tradition to Modernity,” will run from May 13 to November 1 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya serves as patron.
It is organised through a collaboration between the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACIT), the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
More than 200 items will be displayed, including royal gowns, garments, and accessories created by French couturier Pierre Balmain in collaboration with the embroidery house Lesage, alongside works by Thai designers.
The exhibition also commemorates the 340th anniversary of relations between Thailand and France and the 170th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties, established in 1856.
The showcase traces the evolution of royal court attire and its presentation on the international stage, featuring garments worn by Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, and Princess Sirivannavari.
It will also present all eight styles of Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom, the royally endorsed national costumes, highlighting traditional craftsmanship and textile artistry passed down through generations.
The exhibition also supports Thailand’s effort to nominate Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom for inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2026.