Princess Sirivannavari serves as patron of royal Thai dress exhibition in Paris
La Mode en Majesté opens in Paris from May 13 to November 1, celebrating royal Thai dress and Thailand-France diplomatic ties
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya serves as patron of La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress From Tradition to Modernity, a major exhibition on royal Thai dress now being held at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
The exhibition runs from May 13 to November 1, 2026, and is organised through cooperation between the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand, or SACIT, the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
It is being held to mark two important milestones in Thai-French relations: the 340th anniversary of relations between Thailand and France and the 170th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The exhibition brings together more than 200 pieces, including royal gowns, dresses, personal items and jewellery. It features works designed by French couturier Pierre Balmain in collaboration with the renowned embroidery house Lesage, as well as creations by Thai designers.
The exhibition focuses on the evolution of royal court attire and the role of Thai dress in presenting the country’s cultural identity on the world stage.
On display are royal garments associated with Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.
The exhibition also presents all eight styles of Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom, or royally endorsed Thai national dress, alongside valuable Thai craftsmanship that reflects the refinement of Thai wisdom, artistry and cultural heritage passed down through generations.
The exhibition is also regarded as an important force supporting Thailand’s proposal to nominate Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom for inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2026.
The exhibition is divided into seven galleries, beginning with “Prologue to 170 Years of Thai-French Relations”, which traces the close ties between the two countries through the role of dress as a medium of culture and diplomacy.
The next gallery, “The Eight Styles of Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom”, presents the royally endorsed Thai national dress. It features royal attire associated with Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, reflecting the preservation and evolution of Thai dress across different eras.
Another key gallery, “Royal Textiles: The Value of Thai Craftsmanship”, highlights the refinement of Thai artisanal work through decorative and functional objects, including bags, hand-painted fans and Benjarong porcelain.
A major highlight is “Royal Attire of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother by Balmain and Lesage”, which marks the first presentation of Her Majesty’s working process and research in collaboration with the French fashion house Balmain and the SUPPORT Foundation. The gallery features sketches, fabric samples and exquisite embroidery.
The exhibition also showcases “Yok Textiles and Regional Woven Fabrics”, reflecting weaving wisdom from different regions of Thailand, as well as “Mudmee Silk in Haute Couture”, which demonstrates how Thai textiles were brought into the world of French haute couture through collaboration with the embroidery house Lesage.
Visitors will also be able to view works by contemporary Thai designers who continue and reinterpret Thai art and culture in new dimensions through “The Art of Embroidery by SIRIVANNAVARI”, the brand founded by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.
The gallery also features works by contemporary Thai designers including TIRAPAN, ASAVA, VATIT ITTHI, WISHARAWISH and MESHMUSEUM, who creatively express Thai identity through a contemporary fashion perspective.
The public is invited to experience the beauty and refinement of Thailand’s cultural heritage at “La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress from Tradition to Modernity”, which is open from today until November 1, 2026, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France.
