UNESCO, SACIT, and Siam Piwat join forces to propel Thai handicrafts to the global stage

Bangkok, June 27, 2025 – UNESCO has joined forces with the Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), or SACIT, and Siam Piwat Group to support local textile artisans from seven provinces as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). This collaboration marks a milestone as Siam Piwat, the founder of ICONCRAFT, has been selected as the only private partner by UNESCO and SACIT for “UNESCO x SACIT x ICONCRAFT: A Celebration of Thai Artisans and Creative Cities.” This extraordinary campaign will celebrate Thai artisans and elevate local wisdom from the seven Creative Cities, which are epicenters of cultural heritage and Thai craftsmanship, into contemporary works of art, with the SIRIVANNAVARI brand and 14 of Thailand’s top designers. The three parties recently signed a Letter of Intent to support craftmanship and the creative economy, empowering local communities and the next generation of Thai designers.

A key highlight of the event was two silk clutch bags designed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, the Creative Director of the SIRIVANNAVARI brand. Under the vision of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, each bag features intricate embroidery crafted by the skilled artisans of the SIRIVANNAVARI Atelier & Academy. The first clutch is a dazzling creation featuring a radiant golden peacock — the emblem of the SIRIVANNAVARI brand — with its fanned tail adorned with ears of rice, symbolizing prosperity and abundance, and shimmering beads and crystals. The second clutch draws inspiration from traditional woven textiles, with embroidery that echoes the fabric's intricate patterns, enhancing their dimension and elegance. Both pieces are one-of-a-kind works of art — true masterpieces that embody exclusivity and refined craftsmanship. Crafted from the Kaew Ching Duang silk – a textile symbolizing of prosperity, unity, and harmony – these pieces were handwoven by nationally honored master artisan Weeratham Taragoonngernthai, the grand master of Thai silk and founder of the “CHANSOMA” brand in Surin Province. Each piece is specially designed to honor the spirit of Thai artisans and capture the magnificence of Thai craftsmanship through a contemporary lens.

The royally designed silk clutches were auctioned to raise funds for a youth-focused UNESCO programme, which promotes education and creative development for youth in Thailand’s seven Creative Cities, namely Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Sukhothai, Phetchaburi, Chiang Rai, and Suphanburi.

Another highlight is an exhibition of eight traditional Thai ensembles from the royal wardrobe of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, on loan from the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, marking their debut showcase in Thailand. Designed and tailored by Tirapan Wannarat, owner of the TIRAPAN couture house and Thailand’s 2019 National Artist in Visual Arts (Fashion Design), each piece, including Thai Ruen Ton, Thai Chitralada, and Thai Amarin style, is worn for royal ceremonies and official occasions and imbued with historical significance.

Ms. Soohyun Kim, Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, stated, “This collaboration is about sustaining the knowledge systems and cultural identities that Thai craftsmanship represents. By linking local artisans with leading designers, and supporting creative education for young people across Thailand’s Creative Cities, we are investing in the future of intangible heritage and creativity. UNESCO is proud to work alongside SACIT and Siam Piwat to ensure that the next generation not only inherits these traditions, but also shapes them in new and inspiring ways.”

Asst. Prof Dr. Anucha Thirakanont, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (SACIT) stated, “As an organization with a mission to preserve, innovate, and promote Thai craftsmanship in all dimensions, it is a great honor to be part of this collaborative initiative with UNESCO and Siam Piwat. This project serves as a model for integrating creativity with Thai wisdom, making traditional crafts more contemporary. In particular, the Thai artisans supported by SACIT are highly skilled professionals with great potential for further development. This initiative presents a dynamic opportunity for artisans and creatives to collaborate meaningfully, while also aligning with various dimensions of sustainability. It marks a new chapter that highlights the potential of Thai craftsmanship on the global stage.”

Ms. Usara Yongpiyakul, Retail Business Consultant, Siam Piwat Retail Holding Company Limited, stated, “Forming partnership with UNESCO and SACIT in promoting Thai arts and crafts marks a significant step for Siam Piwat in driving its mission to serve as an opportunity platform, with a focus on honoring Thai artisans and elevating local wisdom on the global stage. Siam Piwat has always been committed to developing our business while delivering shared value for people, communities, society, and the nation. To integrate our effort to support Thai talent into our retail models, we have established ICONCRAFT as a platform to create opportunities and a space of inspiration for over 1,000 local artisans and small-scale entrepreneurs from every region of Thailand, giving them a stage to demonstrate their capabilities and present Thai heritage in a creative way. We have been working actively with our public and private partners to build value and sustainability for the Thai handicraft industry and foster a strong network to proudly showcase the quintessential Thai identity on the global stage.”

Through this collaboration, Siam Piwat aims to support cultural entrepreneurs and inspire Thailand’s new generation of leaders in the cultural and creative sectors by building upon the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, focusing on providing sustainable educational support for local youth. This partnership led to the creation of the “UNESCO x SACIT x ICONCRAFT: A Celebration of Thai Artisans and Creative Cities” campaign, which connected the local wisdom and Thai handicrafts from the seven Creative Cities with 14 designers.

SACIT has long been a key partner of Siam Piwat and recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly support and enhance the capacities of Thai master artisans, craftsmen, their successors, producers and designers, as part of a strategic initiative to elevate Thai craftmanship to gain wider recognition on the international stage. To create this exclusive collection, seven leading Thai designers have been invited by ICONCRAFT to collaborate with seven designers from the Thai arts and crafts sector invited by SACIT. The leading designer brands are as follows: ATELIER PICHITA designing with Tai Lue woven fabric from the Kru Dok Kaew Tai Lue Weaving Group from Chiang Rai; THEATRE designing with Thai Song Dam fabric from the Ban Don Manow Thai Song Dam Weaving Group from Suphanburi; CHAI GOLD LABEL designing with Lanna-style batik from Rak Batik from Chiang Mai; HOOK’S BY PRAPAKAS designing with hand-painted batik from the Ying Batik Paint Group from Phuket; WISHARAWISH designing with Lai Yang fabric from Phusa Pha Lai Yang from Phetchaburi; PYVET designing with Jok Khon Men fabric from Suntree Thai of Sukhothai; and JANESUDA designing with colorful batik from Marionsiam from Bangkok. Each of the seven brands will design two exclusive garments made from these local Thai textiles, for a total of 14 one-of-a-kind ensembles.

The public is invited to visit the exhibition to celebrate Thai heritage and the creativity of the artisans and designers and view the exhibition of royal Thai fashion from the collection of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya from now until June 29, 2025, at ICONLUXE AVENUE, ICONSIAM. For more details, please follow Facebook: SIAM PIWAT and ICONCRAFT.