Thailand Launches Book on Royal Thai Attire at Paris Hotel
Thailand launched a book titled 'Thai Attire Through the Ages' at Le Meurice Hotel in Paris, highlighting the history and beauty of Royal Thai attire. The publication, backed by the Ministry of Culture, aims to promote Thai textile heritage worldwide and support the nation’s bid for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status. It features the eight Royal Thai attire styles initiated by Queen Sirikit and includes images, patterns, and fashion adaptations.
The book launch of 'Thai Attire Through the Ages' records the value and beauty of 'Royal Thai attire,' a cultural heritage reflecting Thai identity for the international audience. The book, titled 'CHUD THAI THROUGH THE AGES: WEAVING, HISTORY, CRAFT AND IDENTITY,' showcases Thai textile wisdom and craftsmanship onto the global stage at Le Meurice Hotel in Paris, France, on October 10, 2026.
Produced by the Ministry of Culture through the Department of Cultural Promotion, the book aims to disseminate knowledge and document the origins, worth, and splendor of Royal Thai attire, a cultural heritage that reflects Thai identity, refinement, and artisan wisdom, while promoting awareness both domestically and internationally.
Royal Thai attire originated from the royal initiative and vision of Queen Sirikit, who sought to revive and promote Thai arts and culture through the development of distinctive clothing suited to global contexts, especially during 2003–2005 BE when Thailand’s role on the world stage grew. This led to the creation of eight Royal Thai attire styles: Thai Ruean Ton, Thai Chit Lada, Thai Amarin, Thai Borom Phiman, Thai Chakkri, Thai Dusit, Thai Sivalai, and Thai Chakkraphat, along with three types of royal-bestowed garments. These ensembles combine the beauty of Thai clothing with artisan craftsmanship, from silk weaving and sabai draping to embroidery and tailoring according to palace standards.
Within the book 'Chud Thai,' valuable content and illustrations gather the history of Thai attire, images of Queen Sirikit in Royal Thai attire, images of ladies in Royal Thai attire, various Royal Thai attire designs, as well as the adaptation of Royal Thai attire into fashion dimensions and patterns, to convey knowledge in history, art and culture, and design for new generations and interested parties to study and build upon.
On March 26, 2024 BE, the Cabinet approved the submission of 'Thai Attire: Knowledge, Handicraft Practice, and National Dress Code Guidelines' for inscription as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity with UNESCO, confirming the value, importance, and distinctiveness of Thai attire as a cultural heritage that deeply reflects Thai identity, currently being prepared for UNESCO World Heritage listing later this year.
The Department of Cultural Promotion therefore produced the book 'Thai Attire Through the Ages' to affirm the tangible value of Royal Thai attire as a living cultural heritage, transmitted from Queen Sirikit’s initiative and continued in contemporary society, with the capacity to convey and develop further on an international level. The Ministry of Culture, through the Department of Cultural Promotion, hopes the book will serve as a historical record linking past, present, and future of Thai women’s dress, born from Queen Sirikit’s vision as patron of Thai arts and culture, raising awareness and inspiring the sustainable conservation and advancement of Thailand’s cultural heritage.
