Deputy Minister of Culture Launches Project to Promote the Potential of Thai Contemporary Culture Globally

On Thursday, 12 Nov 2026 at 1:00 p.m., Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, assigned Mr. Phot Hanpon, Deputy Minister of Culture, to preside over the opening of the project to promote the potential of Thai contemporary culture globally, along with speakers and honored guests attending the ceremony on the 5th floor of Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center in Chiang Mai province.

Mr. Phot Hanpon, Deputy Minister of Culture, revealed that the Ministry of Culture, through the Department of Cultural Promotion, is continuing the royal initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, by transferring knowledge and widely publicizing the Royal Thai costume to all sectors of society with accurate and reliable information. The Ministry has submitted the Royal Thai costume for registration as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity to UNESCO under the title “Chud Thai: The Knowledge, Craftsmanship and Practices of The Thai National Costume.” This listing has passed preliminary evaluation and is awaiting official approval at the 21st Intergovernmental Committee meeting for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Xiamen, People's Republic of China, expected to be announced on 2 Dec 2026.

Regarding the project to promote the potential of Thai contemporary culture globally, the activity to collect and disseminate knowledge about the Royal Thai costume will be carried out in various formats as follows:

(1) Organizing seminars to disseminate and transfer knowledge about the Royal Thai costume.

(2) Conducting workshops to transfer skills and knowledge in tailoring and decorating the Royal Thai costume's patterns and embellishments.

(3) Organizing an exhibition of the Royal Thai costume honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.

Today's event activities include:

• Watching a fashion show featuring eight styles of the Royal Thai costume, heritage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and three royal garments for gentlemen, led by actors James Ma and Pai Rinrada Kaewbuasai. The Royal Thai costumes were designed and tailored by Mr. Jarut Phinyokirati, a designer specializing in Thai costume tailoring (PetchBoutique - Petch fashion house), while the royal garments for gentlemen were designed and tailored by Mr. Pawan Homsilphakun, designer and owner of Broadway Tailor.
• A panel discussion on knowledge about the Royal Thai costume featuring experts including Mr. Wicharawit Akrasantisuk, Dr. Korkrod Kamsuk, Associate Professor Dr. Rawithep Musikapan, and Ms. Alisa Saisevtavaree, curator of the textile museum of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
• Viewing the exhibition of the Royal Thai costume honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, from 12 to 14 Nov 2026 on the 4th floor near the glass elevator at Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center. The Royal Thai costumes were designed and tailored by Mr. Theerapun Wannarat, a National Artist in visual arts (fashion design) in 2019, and the royal garments for gentlemen were designed and tailored by Mr. Sirichai Taharanon, designer and owner of the Theatre brand.

This project to promote the potential of Thai contemporary culture globally plays an important role in supporting students, designers, Thai costume producers, textile entrepreneurs, rental service providers, and interested members of the public to gain accurate and reliable knowledge about the Royal Thai costume. This cultural capital has potential to generate income and economic value for the country in the future.