Siam Paragon had a bigger than usual crowd out on July 29 for "Mon Mai Thoed Phrakiat: A Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit", a fashion show featuring the Queen's own silk garments.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was on hand for the launch of the royal peacock emblem, which will certify official approval for Thai silk fabrics and products.

The emblem is granted only by the Queen Sirikit Institute of Sericulture, and first to be issued the endorsement was Her Majesty's Support Foundation.

More than 25 applicants received the certification from the Princess at Paragon.

The peacock will adorn silk of four types. A golden peacock indicates Royal Thai Silk, produced by native silkworms and hand-made.

Silver is for Classic Thai Silk, produced by a developed silkworm breed and not necessarily hand-made. Blue designates Thai Silk, made of pure silk threads but with no specific weaving method.

The green of Thai Silk Blend applies to any fabric with pure silk threads as its main material, though the percentage of other materials used must be clearly identified.

Products and fabrics with the peacock emblem are guaranteed to have been manufactured in Thailand.

Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, deputy private secretary to the Queen, outlined the "tremendous mission" undertaken by Her Majesty over the past three decades.

"On one visit in 1970, Their Majesties went to distribute articles of necessity to victims of a devastating flood in Nakhon Phanom," she said. "Her Majesty was deeply impressed with the beauty of Thai silk clothing and the sarongs worn by the villagers. She learned that they wove the silk fabrics themselves for personal use."

The Queen highlighted the possibilities in a 1990 public address.

"Growing mulberry and raising silkworms, apart from supplementing the income of farmers, are also the nation's ancient and beautiful cultural heritage, which has been passed down for a long age. In whatever way the country's economy may change, the development of raising silkworms must continue."

She realised that the quality of Thai silk had deteriorated over time, with some people more interested in quick money.

"There were vendors driving truckloads of low-quality silk materials to the silk-producing villages so that the villagers could buy these fabrics and then sell them to Her Majesty," Thanphuying Charungjit said.

The Queen thus initiated the institute last year to safeguard sericulture, and now always appears in public in silk garments in both Thai and Western styles.

The outfits from Her Majesty's wardrobe on display at Paragon were designed by local and foreign talents including Nai Noi, Pierre Balmin and Erik Mortensen.

A splendid fashion show had creations in four different types of silk fabrics by Pichitra Boonyarataphan, Headquarters, Ong-Art Niramon, Sretsis, Issue, Prapakart, Zenith and 27 Friday.

The Queen Sirikit Institute of Sericulture is at (02) 579 3118 and (02) 940 6655. 

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation