Tokyo: Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana led the charge, opening a runway showcasing "Royal Thai Traditional Dresses" in Tokyo. This marked the showcase of Thailand's invaluable cultural heritage, fostering knowledge and elevating Thai traditional attire to the global stage, with the aim of incorporating it into the UNESCO World Heritage list by the end of this year.
According to Thai News Agency, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana presided over the fashion show of eight royal Thai dress styles: Ruean Ton, Chitralada, Amarin, Borom Phiman, Dusit, Chakri, Sivalai, and Chakraphat, along with three royal-granted men's attire, at Hyokeikan, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan. Also in attendance were Ms. Sabida Thaiseth, Minister of Culture; Mr. Chada Thaiseth, Member of Parliament for Uthai Thani; and Mr. Sarun Chareonsuwan, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs. The event, titled 'CHUD THAI KNOWLEDGE, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND PRACTICES OF THE THAI NATIONAL COSTUME,' took place from September 17-18, 2026.
The foundation for establishing knowledge of Thai traditional clothing on the global stage stems from the royal aspirations of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, who is committed to preserving and continuing the nation's artistic and cultural heritage, especially in clothing, a key aspect of Thailand's identity. With her vision and intellect, Her Majesty systematically researched historical evidence regarding Thai women's attire, including court styles throughout different eras. She graciously commissioned experts in history and design to develop the "Royal Thai Dress" as a standard of dress for Thai women, appropriate both culturally and in the context of modern Thai society. This evolved into a prototype of contemporary Thai attire that is modest, elegant, and suitable for wearing during royal duties both domestically and internationally.
Throughout the years, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, wore traditional Thai dresses on various occasions, using clothing as a "cultural medium" to convey the image of Thailand on the international stage. This was especially true during her official visits to the United States and European countries, including the Netherlands in 1960, where the royal Thai dresses impressed and gained international recognition. Furthermore, this led to a collaboration with the French designer Pierre Balmain, who played a significant role in showcasing the beauty of Thai silk through haute couture tailoring.
Furthermore, the event featured demonstrations of the creation process of ancient Thai jewelry, a high art form. These included various crafts such as jewelry making and embroidery, silver and gold work, traditional gold leaf application techniques for fabric bags, and auspiciously patterned silk fabrics. These were presented as contemporary designs reflecting artistic structures, not merely as historical artifacts, but as a living heritage capable of continuous development.
In 2024, the Cabinet approved the proposal to submit "Thai Costume: Knowledge, Craftsmanship, and Practices in Wearing National Thai Costume" to UNESCO for consideration as intangible cultural heritage at the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Committee, to be held in December 2026 in Xiamen, People's Republic of China.