When King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit commenced their tour of the Northeastern provinces they note that all the villagers were raising their own cocoons and weaving fabrics for their own use.The Queen was very much impressed by the colourful Mudmee sin (sarong) of various designs worn by the women.In encouraging the villagers to find a stable source of supplementary income, especially during famines and floodings, the Queen focussed her support on cultivating their existing handicraft skills. The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand (SUPPORT) was established to promote the cultivation of silk cocoons and weaving, providing development guidelines for achieving consistent quality , advancing Thai silk.

Additionally,the Queen also supported the systematic production and marketing of Thai silk , turning it into a globally recognised product.
In recognition of her developmental work in sericulture , the International Sericultural Commission awarded her the Louis Pasteur Award in 2002.