National Thai Textile Day Date in the current year: August 12, 2024

Thailand’s textile industry has a long history: the art and craft of creating cotton and silk textiles with unique patterns has been passed down through many generations, and hand-woven textiles produced in different parts and communities of Thailand reflect their unique cultural identities.

The modern textile industry of Thailand has developed significantly over the past few decades and is consistently growing. With more than 4,800 local textile manufacturers and roughly 500,000 workers employed in the sector, Thailand is one of the few countries with market presence across the entire value chain of the textile industry:

• Upstream (raw materials): fiber production (natural and synthetic)
• Midstream (components): yarn production (spun and filament yarn), fabric production (knitting and weaving), fabric processing (dyeing, finishing, printing)
• Downstream: final products (apparel and non-apparel)

Thai manufacturers produce womanswear and menswear, jeans, undergarments, sportswear, home textiles (bedding, curtains, bathroom textiles, carpets), and functional textiles (technical, automotive, protective, medical, agricultural, water-repellent, antibacterial, temperature-regulated, etc.).

The export revenue of the Thai textile industry was valued at almost $7 billion in 2016, making up more than 3% of Thailand’s total exports. That year, Thailand was ranked as the world’s 5th largest producer of acrylic fiber and 9th largest producer of polyester fiber, as well as the 7th largest exporter of silk in Asia.

In the past few decades, the textile and apparel industry of Thailand has shifted towards the production of high-tech and value-added products to preserve its momentum. Thai government and related institutions have been supporting small- and medium-sized companies to strengthen the industry, putting a special emphasis on the midstream sector, especially the production of functional textiles such as automotive textiles (carpets, seat covers, safety belts, airbags, etc.) and medical textiles (bandages and medical uniforms, including surgical and patient clothing).

Queen Sirikit, the mother of the incumbent King of Thailand, Vajiralongkorn, made a significant contribution to the development of the country’s textile industry during the 20th century. She actively promoted Thai textiles and garments, and helped to preserve traditional fabric production and textile arts.

Queen Sirikit’s birthday, August 12, was designated as National Thai Textile Day in 2022 in honor of her 90th birthday. The inaugural celebration included the opening of a Thai textile exhibition in Bangkok, with King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida in attendance. In addition to being celebrated as Thai Textile Day, the birthday of Queen Sirikit is Mother’s Day and a national holiday in Thailand.