Designer showcases Belgian culture in original creation for international exhibition in Bangkok

Brussels fashion and textile designer Julie Menuge was selected to represent Belgium for the Amazing Thailand Global Thai Silk Exhibition in Bangkok.

The designer, who specialises in “upcycling vintage and artisanal textiles from all cultures,” created a unique dress that combined Thai silk with linen from Belgium.

Menuge adorned her elegant black and turquoise creation with Belgian motifs, from fries and carnival characters, the Gilles de Binche, to comic strip and Brussels lace.

All of the designers in the show were supplied with predominantly black Thai silk as the country is currently in national mourning following the passing of its Queen Mother, Queen Sirikit, and Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati.

The exhibition featuring works by fashion designers from more than 102 countries was staged alongside the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group annual meetings in Bangkok.

“Beyond creating garments, the project provides a platform for learning and cultural exchange, allowing designers to engage with Thai craftsmanship, interpret its stories through their own creations and share those stories in countries around the world,” said Edward Kitti, founder of the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions.

Julie Menuge moved from Roubaix in France to Brussels in 2002 to study first fashion design and then textile design at La Cambre.

After gaining professional experience in haute couture and the world of entertainment, she  worked for Jean-Paul Gaultier in Paris, and has run her own design studio since 2011.

Menuge’s collections have been presented at numerous festivals and exhibitions, both in Belgium and abroad. Some key pieces were acquired by the Fashion and Lace Museum in Brussels in 2018.

Photos: ©Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions; Portrait ©Julie Menuge