At Bangkok’s Silk Festival 2025, the Country’s Silk Industry Is at the Fore

At Bangkok’s Silk Festival 2025, the beloved Thai fabric is front and center. 

Decades ago, Thailand’s late Majesty Queen Sirikit voyaged to Thailand’s remote villages and asked to wear the creations of local craftsmen. Taken aback, the artisans replied with a question of their own: Was the Queen Mother certain that she really wished to be garbed in their clothes?

This tale is recalled to us by Ford Kullawit, Vogue Thailand’s incumbent and founding editor-in-chief. Like Vogue Philippines deputy editor and fashion director Pam Quiñones and I, Ford is trailing behind Princess Sirivannavari, who strolls around this newly-mounted fashion exhibit. We are in Bangkok for this year’s Silk Festival, organized by the Federation of Thai Fashion Designers (FTFD). This year marks the festival’s 14th, and it happens to be the largest in scale, says FTFD’s project manager Fin: it is a homage to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who passed away in October.

The Queen Mother was a staunch advocate for Thai craftsmanship, and was dedicated to preserving and promoting Thai textiles throughout her reign. This mission to champion their country’s artistry was one her granddaughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari, inherited. In July 2025, the Princess received a UNESCO commemorative medal, “in recognition of Her Royal Highness’ s exceptional work in preserving cultural heritage, promoting the fine arts, and advancing Thailand’s cultural and creative industries,” reads a statement from the Thai government’s public relations department. 

The Silk Festival was one of the Princess’ projects, made possible with the FTFD. A 6-day affair, the event ran from December 2 to 7 at the IMPACT Exhibition Center, with the theme “Bring the Village to the World.” It put a spotlight on the country’s rich silk industry, alongside the evolving landscape of Southeast Asian fashion and creativity. Opening the week-long celebration was a fashion show, featuring over 60 looks made by 31 leading Thai designers including Her Royal Highness’ eponymous label. At their hands, Thai silk was interpreted anew. The fabric was designed, patterned, and draped in 67 different ways, from Sretsis’ playful vibrant dresses to Disaya’s gleaming macramé embellishments and Vatit Itthi’s contemporary-vintage fusion. Some designers even took inspiration from the late Queen Mother, weaving her identity into their garments.

“I think Thai people are very creative…being inspired by things around us, but at the same time, turning it inside and making it contemporary and unique for each and every one of us,” says Pimstarr Sukhahuta, creative director of Sretsis. “And today, with this show, I think it’s something very exciting when you see all coming together.”

After all models journeyed down the runway, they retreated behind a massive curtain that, for the finale, slowly rose up to reveal all the works. It was a striking tableau that served as a microcosm of Thai fashion at this point in time.

This moment was preserved for the remaining days of the festival, through a central exhibit that guests were free to walk through until its closing. Large sections of the long hall, on either side of the fashion exhibition, were generously allocated to booths showcasing food, textiles, and crafts from all over Thailand. Popular stalls sold durian paste, Thai milk tea, and even fishcake that BLACKPINK’s Lisa was spotted enjoying in a viral post. There was also the now-elusive Khao Lam, a sweet sticky rice dessert prepared in a tube of bamboo.

On the festival’s second day, the FTFD held a symposium for students and emerging designers. It was an opportunity to learn from Southeast Asian fashion leaders, including Quinones. The panel focused on the region’s rising creative industries, and was moderated by Janesuda Parnto, with speakers L’Officiel Vietnam creative director Alex Fox, FTFD president Milin Yuvacharuskul, and Thai model Supitcha Chayanukulpap.

Discussing the imperative for responsible design, individuality in an era of homogeneity, and a razor-sharp purpose, the panel closes with advice to aspiring designers.

Pam leaves the audience with words to ponder: “To be a designer in 2025 and beyond comes with not just aesthetics, but also ethics and a strong sense of responsibility,” she insists. “It’s no longer just creating beauty, but adding value, being a problem-solver.”