Wildflowers of Grace
College of DesignCollege of Design, Rangsit University

Laddawan Sarapat

Abstract :

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, is widely respected for her profound benevolence and exceptional contributions to the arts and culture of Thailand. She has played a vital role in preserving, revitalizing, and advancing numerous branches of Thai cultural heritage, particularly in the realm of women’s traditional dress. Her vision gave rise to the “Thai Royal Costume,” a collection of elegant and dignified designs created to elevate Thai attire and present it appropriately on the international stage. This initiative not only enhanced the aesthetic presence of Thai fashion globally but also ensured the continuity and development of traditional Thai craftsmanship within contemporary society.

Her Majesty’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of the people is also reflected in the establishment of the SUPPORT Foundation. The organization provides supplementary income opportunities for rural communities, especially farmers, during periods outside the agricultural season. At the same time, it preserves traditional crafts such as handwoven textiles, natural dyeing, and basketry, raising their quality and craftsmanship to higher standards. This demonstrates Her Majesty’s far-reaching vision of promoting both the cultural value of Thai arts and the well-being of the people.
During her visits to the northeastern region of Thailand, Her Majesty observed the unique beauty of many native wild plants—flowers found in forests, grasslands, or remote mountain areas, some of which were rare or nearing extinction. She therefore instructed botanists to collect, cultivate, and propagate these species within the palace grounds to ensure their preservation. Several of these wildflowers were also graciously given royal names, each chosen to reflect their distinctive characteristics and natural beauty.

Her Majesty’s ability to recognize the worth of wildflowers—often overlooked as insignificant—symbolizes her profound regard for the value of every individual, no matter how remote or isolated their community may be. This symbolic concept has been translated into a fashion design approach that expresses beauty, gentleness, and resilience inspired by nature. The resulting creative direction serves as a tribute to Her Majesty’s compassion, far-sighted vision, and enduring influence on contemporary design.

Objectives :

  1. To study and reflect the inspiration from the beauty and value of wildflowers, which embodies the philosophy of recognizing the worth in things often overlooked by others.
  2. To develop fashion and pattern design based on natural concepts and symbolic values, translating the elegance, gentleness, and resilience of wildflowers into contemporary clothing designs.
  3. To honor and pay tribute to the benevolence and visionary contributions of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, through fashion design that connects Thai art and culture with the inherent value of human life.

Conceptual Framework :

The wildflowers graciously named and bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, embody a hidden beauty that thrives deep within remote forests. Though they emerge from harsh and rugged landscapes, they radiate a quiet yet powerful resilience—much like the Thai people in every region who, no matter how distant, remain within Her Majesty’s compassionate sight and boundless grace.

This collection expresses a harmony of gentleness and strength through silhouettes inspired by the folded layers and draped sabais of traditional Thai dress, handcrafted textiles from local artisans, and forms drawn from wildflowers—graceful, steadfast, unyielding, and enduring. Natural tones reflecting earth, leaves, and sunlight enrich the narrative, symbolizing the blossoming of life under Her Majesty’s benevolent radiance.

Process / Methodology :

  1. To study the royal initiatives of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, in Thai arts, culture, and traditional costume.
  2. To study and analyze the patterns and designs of the Thai Royal Costume, including fabric folding and the draping of the sabai.
  3. To conduct detailed research on wildflowers growing in remote areas of Pha Luang Waterfall National Park and Pha Taem National Park, Ubon Ratchathani, particularly the royal-named flowers such as Dusita, Maneethewa, Soisuwanna, Tigersa, Saraschantra, Nimanonradee, as well as flowers bearing the royal titles “Somdet Phra Borommarachachonnani Phanpi Luang,” Queen Sirikit Rose, and Donya Queen Sirikit, in order to understand their shapes, colors, and symbolic meanings.
  4. To study and experiment with fashion processes for adapting Thai costume patterns.
  5. To experiment with fashion techniques for creating flowers from fabric.

Techniques and Materials :

Silhouette

  • Developed from adapting the draped sabai and folded forms of traditional Thai attire to harmonize with contemporary fashion.
  • Inspired by the shapes of wildflowers bestowed with royal names—forms that billow, flutter, and flow with grace, yet stand resilient against wind, rain, and sunlight without protection. These silhouettes also reflect the elegance of the plant species named in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.

Color Palette

  • Colors drawn from nature: stone plains, wildflowers, and grass fields of the Pa Taem National Park.
  • Floral tones paired with Queen’s Blue, the color representing Her Majesty, and royal blue, symbolizing nobility and a tribute to grace and dignity.

Techniques

  • Machine embroidery using free-motion hooping on water-soluble fabric to create new textures.
  • Fabric flowers crafted from lightweight textiles stiffened with glue and mixed media (medium) to give delicate fabrics firmness—symbolizing wildflowers that appear fragile yet remain strong and enduring.
  • Layering sheer fabrics to create natural light-and-shadow effects.
  • Embellishment embroidery to convey elegance and refinement.

Fabrics & Materials

Handwoven cotton from Ban Khao Tao, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. This fabric comes from a community of fisherfolk who lost income during monsoon seasons; His Majesty King Rama IX and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, graciously provided looms and teachers to train local women in weaving so they could earn sustainable supplementary income—an occupation that continues to this day.
Silk, chiffon, and mesh fabrics represent the diversity of the Thai people.

Result / Conclusion :

This collection blossoms from the inspiration of wildflowers graciously named by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother—fragile yet resilient, flourishing deep within forests and under harsh elements. Each silhouette reflects the beauty of traditional Thai attire reinterpreted for the contemporary world, while delicate handcrafted fabric flowers echo petals that sway gracefully and endure sun and wind. Nature’s palette—earth, leaves, and sunlight—breathes life into each piece, expressing the resilient spirit of Thai people across every region, nurtured under Her Majesty’s compassionate gaze. Elegance blooms softly yet powerfully, like life thriving under royal benevolence.

References :

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. (2012). Rachasilpa Pastraporn: The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Bangkok, Thailand: Rongphim Printing House.https://www.thaipbs.or.th/news/content/357960
https://mgronline.com/travel/detail/9680000105001#google_vignette

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