Die Manufaktur represents Switzerland at exhibition in Thailand

(CONNECT) Die Manufaktur from St.Gallen is representing Switzerland at the Global Thai Silk Exhibition in Bangkok. The event is dedicated to Thai silk and the country’s traditional textile craftsmanship. It also pays tribute to the textile legacy of Queen Sirikit, who was deeply committed to the craft. Designers from 102 countries have each created a dress for the occasion, which will take place from 12 to 18 October 2026 alongside the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

According to a statement, textile industry association Swiss Textiles asked Die Manufaktur if it would like to represent Switzerland with a dress at the event. The designers at the custom-tailoring shop described the request as “a special honor”, with the answer and the direction they wanted to take clear from the start: “If we’re representing Switzerland, our own textile heritage, St.Gallen embroidery, should be part of the dress.”

Five meters of black silk arrived from Bangkok. Within just over two weeks, the design, pattern, and entire dress were completed. Around the neckline, the designers appliquéd selected scraps of high-quality St.Gallen embroidery in the Swiss national colors, red and white. “The result is a one-of-a-kind piece that combines Thai silk tradition with Swiss tailoring and a part of St.Gallen’s textile history,” says the atelier adding that this project brought together the team’s different strengths: design, patternmaking, tailoring, organization, and communication.

All of this was accomplished in just over two weeks, while operations went on as usual. After the exhibition, the dress, along with designs from around the world, will be displayed at different venues across Thailand. ce/mm