"From Traditional Thai Dress to Royal Thai Style Dresses"—a special lectures presented by of Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha Thirakanon in Berlin, Germany

The Royal Thai Embassy in Berlin, in collaboration with the Society of Indo-Asian Art (GIAK) Berlin, organized a special lecture on Thai traditional textiles—"From Traditional Thai Dress to Royal Thai Style Dresses" at the Klangwerkstatt of the Humboldt Forum on Thursday, 21 March 2024. The event featured Assistant Professor Dr. Anucha Thirakanon, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Thammasat University, renowned specialist in Thai textiles, Thai arts, and culture across various domains.

This special lecture attracted numerous guests including members of the diplomatic corps, as well as academics specializing in fashion design, and students in Germany. H.E. Mr. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Ambassador of Thailand to Germany and Prof. Dr. Felix Gross, the Chairman of GIAK delivered opening remarks at the event which served to create awareness on the history and evolution of Thai traditional costumes.  It is also thus a continuation of the lecture series initiated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Surat Jongda from the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute in September 2023, focusing on Khon Masked Dance costumes.

During the lecture, Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha delved into the evolution of Thai national costume, tracing its development from traditional attire to royal garments. He explored the historical significance of Thai textile, examining their evolution through different periods and their integration with Western clothing during times of Imperialism and the Post World War II era. Notably, Dr. Anucha discussed the concept and origin of all eight Thai Royal costumes, meticulously designed under the royal initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. These Royal Thai Style Dresses, indeed, embody Thailand's rich cultural heritage and the legacy of fine craftsmanship.

Furthermore, Dr. Anucha shed light on the production processes of various Thai textiles, emphasizing efforts to enhance sustainability and increase their value in the international context. He highlighted future prospects and opportunities for Thai fabrics in the global market, underscoring the Thai Government's commitment to promoting these treasures as part of Thailand’s Soft Power and  tangible World Cultural Heritage recognized of UNESCO.

The Embassy wishes to express its gratitude to Ms. Martina Stoye, Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, for mediating and making this event possible, as well as Dr. Maurice Mengel, Head of Department, Ethnological Museum making available the Klangwerkstatt as venue for the event.