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Royal Family of Thailand

Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand Reviews Final Preparations Ahead of La Mode en Majesté Exhibition Opening at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris

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  • Photos courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
  • Photo courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
  • Photo courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
  • Photo courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
  • Photo courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
  • Photo courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles
  • Photo courtesy of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs/Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles

Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand has arrived in Paris ahead of the official opening of the exhibition La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress From Tradition to Modernity at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

As patron of the exhibition, the Princess joined members of the curatorial and organizational teams to review final preparations prior to the exhibition’s opening on May 13th.

The exhibition, which runs through November 1st, 2026, explores the evolution of Thai royal dress and textile traditions from historical court attire to contemporary interpretations of national costume and couture design.

Organized through a collaboration between the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the exhibition forms part of celebrations marking both the 340th anniversary of relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the French Republic and the 170th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.

More than 200 garments and related objects are expected to be displayed, including royal attire associated with the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, alongside contemporary interpretations of traditional Thai dress.

The exhibition also examines the longstanding relationship between members of the royal family of Thailand and French haute couture, including designs created by the French fashion house Balmain for the late Queen Sirikit, with embroidery by Maison Lesage.

Princess Sirivannavari has played an active role in preparations for the exhibition. Earlier this year, the Princess conducted research within the Balmain archives in Paris as part of the curatorial development process.

The exhibition additionally aligns with Thailand’s ongoing effort to secure UNESCO recognition for Chut Thai, also spelled Chud Thai, the royally endorsed Thai national costume, as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Royal Family of Thailand

Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand to Open Landmark Paris Exhibition Celebrating Royal Thai Dress and Queen Sirikit’s Legacy

  • Photo courtesy of H.R.H. Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
  • Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand

On Friday, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya of Thailand concluded a three-day visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where she presided over a series of engagements focused on Thai national dress and textile traditions.

The program included the opening of the Thailand Gallery at the Royal Thai Embassy, a lecture on the development of Thai traditional dress and textiles, and the inauguration of the exhibition Chud Thai: Knowledge, Craftsmanship and Practices of the Thai National Costume at Hotel Des Indes in Den Haag.

Following these engagements, the Princess, as Patron, is preparing for the forthcoming exhibition, La Mode en Majesté: Royal Thai Dress: From Tradition to Modernity, to be held from May 13th to November 1st, 2026, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France.

More than 200 garments and related items will be presented, including royal dress, accessories, and textile works associated with the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, alongside contemporary interpretations of traditional design. It will also include all eight recognized forms of Chud Thai Phra Ratcha Niyom, the royally endorsed national costume.

The exhibition focuses on the development of Thai court dress over time, with particular attention to the role of the late Queen Sirikit in shaping its modern form. Garments created by the French fashion house, Balmain, for the Queen, with embroidery by Maison Lesage, are included as part of the exhibition material.

In January 2026, in preparation for the exhibition, Princess Sirivannavari visited the archives of the House of Balmain in Paris, where she researched hundreds of couture garments designed and created by Balmain for the late Queen Sirikit. The research supported the curation of the exhibition, which explores the relationship between Thai royal tradition and haute couture, particularly the long-standing collaboration between the late Queen Sirikit and the House of Balmain. 

The exhibition is being presented to mark the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the French Republic and aligns with Thailand’s ongoing submission of Chud Thai for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity maintained by UNESCO, with consideration expected in 2026.