Original article at Notes From Hollywood.
http://www.notesfromhollywood.com/page.cfm?Sectionid=1&typeofsite=storydetail&ID=1329&storyset=yes
The House of Balmain has officially announced its sponsorship of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection – under the key theme of Thai Silk - to debut at the Paris Fashion Week in October 2007.
"It is a great pleasure for us that the special relationship between Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Chakri Royal House and the House of Balmain has been prospering for almost 47 years. Ultimately, this special relationship becomes a tradition. With all grateful to the HM Queen Sirikit, House of Balmain, thus, has a strong intention to perpetuate that tradition and special relationship."
...Mr Alain Hivelin, Balmain President
The Royal Granddaughter, In Her Own Words
I never expected to have a fashion show at Paris Fashion Week. Nevertheless, I have a long hoped that a Thai designer will make it happen one day. Recently, the House of Balmain offered its sponsorship of my Spring/Summer 2008 collection debut at the Paris Fashion Week in October 2007.
HRH Princess Sirivannavari hugs HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as his consort, HRH Princess Sri Rasmi looks on, on the opening night of Bangkok Fashion Week 2006. Photo courtesy of MDK Consultants.
I am honored to have a show there because Paris Fashion Week is the Mecca of the great designers. Furthermore, the world class celebrities and fashionistas will join this event. This fashion event is like the Olympics of the Fashion world. As the opportunity is approaching, I would like to promote the value of Thai craftsmanship on the world fashion stage. Therefore, the key theme of my collection is Asia, particularly Thainess, in which I will represent Thai identity, traditional technique, and myself.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana and the model wearing HRH's wedding dress design are both looking at the camera just after HRH's fashion show in this rare photo by Nicholas Snow.
Ultimately, I would like to follow the footsteps of HM Queen Sirikit to perpetuate Thai craftsmanship, particularly Thai Silk from the Support Foundation, to be recognized by the world fashion society. Honestly speaking, Thai craftsmanship is magnificent and Thai culture is very unique. However, we are in lack of good support.
This is the reason why I would like to facilitate the interest of Thai silk among young Thai designers and encourage them to use Thai silk in their collection. Indeed, Thai craftsmen are seeking help from all designers. Thus, I, as a young designer, aim to support them and bring those splendid works to the world.
The wedding dress from HRH Princess Sirivannavari's Fly to Nouveau collection as photographed by Nicholas Snow.
About HRH's Collection
As for the Spring/Summer 2008 collection, I drew an inspiration from the combination of Thainess and chic modernity reinterpreting the classic silhouette, traditional motif and Thai craftsmanship in a collection celebrating the beautiful fabric and couture-finished details.
HRH Princess Sirivannavari as photograhed by Nicholas Snow at her press conference during Bangkok Fashion Week 2006.
In the meantime, I put all of my effort to do the best of the collection. Essentially, the House of Balmain gave some advice on a direction of my collection. Fundamentally, it is suggested that the collection shall represent myself. Also, I have to prepare myself for the interview with international press. Consequently, I have wholeheartedly contributed my endeavor for the best of everything.
A model in one of HRH Princess Sirivannavari's designs captivates the media duirng 'Fly to Nouveau' as photographed by Nicholas Snow.
From the House of Balmain
Mr. Alain Hivelin, Balmain President, stated, "HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is an outstanding young designer. I witnessed her talent at the Thai Silk festival in Sakonnakorn in November 2005. I was astonished and felt the energy from her collection. More importantly, I did not know it was the Princess’s collection in the first place."
Mr. Hivelin further explained, "Afterwards, I was invited to the Princess’s fashion show for the opening of Bangkok Fashion Week. I found the same impression of energy, a mix of modernism, Thai culture, nouvelle, modern, and coming from centuries. And in her designs there’s so much strength that I felt that it deserves to be presented, and to be shared with the international fashion world. This is the rational behind House of Balmain’s sponsorship of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection debut at the Paris Fashion Week."
Mr. Hivelin continued, "It is a great pleasure for us that the special relationship between Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Chakri Royal House and the House of Balmain has been prospering for almost 47 years. Ultimately, this special relationship becomes a tradition. With all grateful to the HM Queen Sirikit, House of Balmain, thus, has a strong intention to perpetuate that tradition and special relationship."
"Moreover," he contineud, "the House of Balmain would like to take a role conveying the value of Thai craftsmanship, particularly Thai Silk from the Support Foundation of HM Queen Sirikit, to the world fashion scene. Thus, we deem it an honor to offer sponsorship of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection debut at the Paris Fashion Week in October 2007."
More About HRH
With a passion for fashion design, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana enrolled on a BA with a major in Fashion Design at Creative Arts Department, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University after a high-school graduation from Chitralada School.
With HRH Princess’s talent, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn allowed HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana to show her Spring/Summer 2006 Collection, Fly to Nouveau, at the premier of Bangkok Fashion Week II after making a stage debut collection, Viva Victorian, at Bangkok Fashion Week I. However, the first collection, Red Hobby, was presented in 2004 when HRH Princess studied in Grade- 12 at Chitralada School.
‘Fly to Nouveau’ was a ready-to-wear collection inspired by the art of ‘Mucha’, the world-renown art nouveau artist and the nostalgia of war in 1920s-1930s. The collection was sexy, feminine and funky. The highlight of the collection was the textile designed by HRH Princess.
Fashions from HRH Princess Sirivannavari's Fly to Nouveau collection. Photo courtesy of MDK Consultants.
In addition, HRH Princess continues to use Thai Silk from the Support Foundation of HM Queen Sirikit to convey the value of Thai craftsmanship through the collection to facilitate the interest of Thai Silk among Thai public cliché. Also, HRH Princess has an intention to promote the value of Thai Silk to be recognized by the world fashion society.
Apart from the fashion studies at Chulalongkorn University, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has further pursued the fashion interests from the world famous fashionistas such as Mr. Giorgio Armani, Mr. Karl Lagerfeld, Mr. John Galliano and Mr. Francesco Costa. Besides, HRH Princess always graciously presides over the world fashion events such as Paris Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week to study the trend and movement of world fashion business.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana presided over Bangkok International Fashion Week 2007.
In the future, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has a strong intention to open a fashion boutique called ‘Sirivannavari’ using a Peacock logo and offering 2 lines of clothing, Haute Couture and Ready-to-Wear, and a wide range of fashion items. In addition, HRH Princess wishes to inaugurate a boutique in an international market.
HRH Princess Sirivannavari allowed NotesFromHollywood.com and NotesFromBangkok.com publisher Nicholas Snow to be photograhed with her at HRH's private party following her triumphant Fly to Nouveau fashion show at Bangkok Fashion Week 2006.
The feature story about Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana as published in Benjarong Magazine.
