Arts and crafts
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother has performed her royal activities in providing better welfare for rural people, one of which was to found The Foundation of the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand or SUPPORT in short. Apart from generating supplementary income for the people, the Foundation also helps preserve and promote local handicrafts that are part of Thai cultural heritage such as weaving and basketry.
Conservation
In accordance with the initiatives of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, the Little House in the Big Forest Project under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother was commenced with the aim of assisting the people in earning sufficient income by shifting their cultivation while preserving the forests and environment shares the King’s passionate concern for the country’s natural resources and follows his example by giving strong support to conservation
effort.
Craftmanship
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother has shown interest in local handicrafts after accompanying His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great in visiting different regions of the kingdom. Her Majesty felt the weaving of Mudmee silk was worth being promoted and used as a second source of income during the off-season.
Agriculture
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother has always placed importance on research on crop varieties including medicinal plants and cash crops as well as animal species suitable for farming in each area. With the focus on practicality, each royal project emphasizes its simplicity and therefore can be carried out by these farmers themselves, which then enables them to earn supplementary income in times of need.
Healthcare
Apart from setting up a royal medical team to follow her on her visits to rural areas, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother established Saijaithai Foundation Under The Royal Patronage in order to foster disaster victims, police officers, soldiers patrolling the border, and military veterans and their families.
Her Majesty also founded the Patients Under Royal Care Division and fostered a number of foundations and organizations. Under her Majesty’s personal funds, PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) suits were distributed to hospitals assisting the staff in their operation.
Traditional Thai dress designed by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother
Thailand has a long proud history of freedom with culture, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother the effect of the influx of modern technology and foreign culture on the young generation of Thais, move to blend the essence of our age-old culture into the everyday lives of the Thai people in order to preserve the cultural identity of our nation.
In 1960 when preparing to accompany His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great on a state visit to Europe and America, Her Majesty realized that Thai women had no national dress suitable for the modern environment.
In response to the royal command, court designers adapted Thai costumes of the past into a series of practical designs for various occasions. The dresses were worn by Her Majesty during the state visit, and became Thai national costumes to the present day. Her Majesty named the costumes after the buildings within the compounds of the royal palaces:
- Thai Ruan Ton
- Thai Chitralada
- Thai Amarin
- Thai Borom Phiman
- Thai Chakri
- Thai Dusit
- Thai Sivalai
- Thai Chakraphat
Thai Ruan Ton
“Thai Ruan Ton” is the name of this costume for informal functions.
Thai Chitralada
“Thai Chitralada” is designed for formal daytime functions. The skirt is made of silk brocades or with silk brocade hems. The long-sleeved House has a small stand-up collar, The long-sleeved.
Thai Amarin
“Thai Amarin” is similar “Thai Chiralada” The use of gold of silver brocades makes it suitable for function.
Thai Borom Phiman
“Thai Borom Phiman” has a more elaborate skirt with pleats down the front The blouse is buttoned a the back. It is designed for full-dress occasions and evening functions.
Thai Chakri
Designed for formal evening functions, “Thai Chakri“ has the traditional Thai sabai top worn with the front-pleated skirt of “Thai Barom Phiman”
Thai Dusit
“Thai Dusit” with its gold or silver embroidery on sleeveless blouse Is another style for full-dress evening functions.
Thai Sivalai
“Thai Sivalai” costume is used in full gala functions. The costume is designed like “Thai Barom Phiman” with the addition of the sabai worn on top of the blose.
Thai Chakraphat
“Thai Chakrapat” is also designed for gala functions. Is similar to “Thai Chakri” but a pleated sabai is worn under the embroidered one.
Thai Ruan Ton
“Thai Ruan Ton” is the name of this costume for informal functions.
Thai Chitralada
“Thai Chitralada” is designed for formal daytime functions. The skirt is made of silk brocades or with silk brocade hems. The long-sleeved House has a small stand-up collar, The long-sleeved.
Thai Amarin
“Thai Amarin” is similar “Thai Chiralada” The use of gold of silver brocades makes it suitable for function.
Thai Borom Phiman
“Thai Borom Phiman” has a more elaborate skirt with pleats down the front The blouse is buttoned a the back. It is designed for full-dress occasions and evening functions.
Thai Chakri
Designed for formal evening functions, “Thai Chakri“ has the traditional Thai sabai top worn with the front-pleated skirt of “Thai Barom Phiman”
Thai Dusit
“Thai Dusit” with its gold or silver embroidery on sleeveless blouse Is another style for full-dress evening functions.
Thai Sivalai
“Thai Sivalai” costume is used in full gala functions. The costume is designed like “Thai Barom Phiman” with the addition of the sabai worn on top of the blose.
Thai Chakraphat
“Thai Chakrapat” is also designed for gala functions. Is similar to “Thai Chakri” but a pleated sabai is worn under the embroidered one.