Thailand’s Royal Fashion Goes on View in Paris

Celebrating 170 years of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the French Republic, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, also known as MAD, is hosting a fascinating look at the cultural exchange between the two countries. The main focus is through the powerful visual language of textiles, fashion, and dress as exemplified by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, and her collaboration with both Balmain and Lesage. Of the some 200 pieces on view now, 40 are from Queen Sirikit herself and the other 24 from both Her Majesty Queen Suthida and HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, who was instrumental in bringing this show to life.

This exhibition is a deep dive into the preservation of traditional crafts, including textiles, but also, the exchanges and influences between the two countries and the evolution of traditional dress and taste. As one has come to know, fashion is often the expression of “soft power.” This is a story of this power, the exchange, tradition, and modernity together, plus mutual respect and the transmission of culture.

Perhaps one of the most visible moments of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the global stage was in 1960 when she embarked with the King on a long trip, including 14 European countries and the United States. Her fashion choices for this diplomatic trip included pieces she worked closely with Balmain on, who knew how to integrate traditional Thai elements with his own creations. “The collaboration between Balmain and the queen was not just about placing orders,” Beatrice Quette, Curator of the Asian and Islamic collections at MAD, tells Galerie. “It was a strong and meaningful collaboration. She understood the need to recreate and rethink the traditional models. She was also thinking in perhaps a more practical and sophisticated way.” There was always traditional visibility, but also a modern sensibility.

This exhibition brilliantly and didactically illustrates Thai fashion through the lens of the queen’s wardrobe and the fabrics she loved and wore time and time again, like brocade and ikats. “What makes this exhibition especially close to my heart is that it highlights the evolution of Thai court dress from the 1960’s to today,” says HRH Princess Sirivannavari, who herself is a fashion designer. “Presented in France for the first time, these royal wardrobes are structured around the eight forms of traditional costume, originally conceived by my grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, in collaboration with Thai historians and designers.”

In addition to representing the Kingdom of Thailand, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was also committed to the preservation and transmission of traditional craft and techniques. HRH Princess Sirivannavari carries on this dedication and commitment to her grandmother’s work. “What shaped me most profoundly was her unwavering dedication to preserving Thai heritage, craftsmanship, and supporting Thai artisans,” she says. “Through the SUPPORT Foundation, which she established in 1976, she devoted herself to sustaining the knowledge and livelihoods of artisans across the country.”

Today, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Suthida, one couldn’t ask for a better legacy to be amplified and highlighted in today’s world, supporting and sharing the importance of cultural heritage and exchange. And to be clear, relations between France and Thailand go further back than 170 years ago. Look no further than the court of Louis XIV, when the first Siamese mission arrived in France in 1686, and diplomatic gifts exchanged hands, and the “soft power” of dress communicated beyond language, geography, and cultures.

“Fashion in all its majesty: Royal Thai dress from Tradition to Modernity” is on view at MAD through November 2026.