Celebration of Thai Silk

Saturday 1st December at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at Central world saw the 8th Celebration of Thai Silk. It was a great success and all credit to Edward Kiti and his team at the Thai Tourists Association Foundation. They pulled off a wonderful event and promoted Thailand to the world.

The first celebration was way back in 2009 and each year in collaboration with members of the foreign diplomatic corps TTAF has organised the project showcasing modern and traditional Thai silk and design.

This year they invited designers from all over the world to take part and to work with their own Embassy and their pwn Ambassador (or spouse) to design a unique, outfit made entirely from Thai silk.

Those that did not have a designer from their country could work with one of the 10 top Thai designers invited to partake this year for the first time.  Each designer showcased a collection up to 12 pieces of Thai Silk costumes and also their own latest creations. All of the Thai Silk fabrics used in this years project were entirely from The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

All Thai Silk fabrics from the Foundation are hand woven with limited quantity for each pattern and texture. This years project was by far the biggest ever organised with more than 3,500 metres of Thai Silk being delivered to designers in more than 40 countries around the world.

The highlight of the year’s event was special appearance by the world renowned designer Jimmy Choo, who made a pair of shoes using Thai Silk fabric. He presented them at the Grand Opening event on the 1st of December 2018.

More than 35 beauty queens from Miss Universe participated in this year’s fashion show wearing Thai Silk dresses designed by either a designer from their own country’s or from the guest Thai designers. This will help to promote the use of Thai Silk and Thai cultures through their fan clubs and social media followers around the world.  The winner of Miss Universe 2015 Miss Pia Alonzo Wutzback from The Philippines was also in Bangkok to model for the famous Filipino American designer Oliver Tolentino at the Grand Opening and Fashion Week.

The experience provides the designer the chance to represent their nation in very unique and special way. The experience also provided important commercial and media exposure for each designer.

Total number of participating countries: 48 Total number of participating Ambassadors: 21 Total number of participating Spouses of Heads of Missions: 23 Total number of participating Embassy representatives: 16 Total number of international designers: 43 Total number of Thai designers: 15 Total number of international beauty queens: 35