Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles

The activities, which include exhibitions and discussions, are offered to visitors free of charge from 1 August to 31 December 2014.

The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles is located at the Ratsadakonphiphat Hall inside the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It was established at the initiative of Her Majesty, who wants the museum to serve as an education center for Thai textiles where visitors will learn more about the history of Thai costumes.

The Ratsadakonphiphat Hall was constructed in 1870 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). At various times, the hall used to serve as the office building of the Treasury Department, the Royal Institute, and the Royal Ceremonial Division. In 2003, Her Majesty the Queen requested permission from His Majesty the King for the use of the then vacant building as the museum of textiles. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was an advisor for the establishment of the museum. Her Majesty the Queen assigned the Princess to represent her at the opening ceremony of the museum on 26 April 2012. Later, on 9 May 2012, the museum was opened to the public.

It features collections of the many varieties of Thai fabric and documents about Thai textiles and local crafts made from fabric. There are three exhibition rooms. The first one, “Artistry in Silk: The Royal Style of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit,” features more than a dozen of Her Majesty’s designer dresses made from hand-woven textiles produced by members of the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT).

The second exhibition room demonstrates Her Majesty’s ingenuity through her revival and reinvention of traditional Thai costumes, entitled “Fashioning Tradition: Queen Sirikit Creates a National Dress for Thailand.”

The third room, “SUPPORT,” is dedicated to the concept behind the beautiful dresses, which is to create a sustainable career and independent livelihood for the Thai people. There is another room for organizing activities that provide knowledge relating to the main exhibitions.

An admirer of Thai fabric, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has dressed in Thai fabric since she was still Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. In 1960, ten years after the royal wedding, Her Majesty decided that it was time to create a traditional Thai dress for women that would be instantly recognizable the world over. Research on the attire that Thai women had worn throughout various historical periods was undertaken to come up with national costume designs.