In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Royal Textile Academy honoured women entrepreneurs who are leaders of sustainable fashion within the Bhutanese textile industry. The event, held in the capital, honoured their contributions and recognised their role as driving forces behind the preservation and innovation of Bhutan’s rich textile heritage.
During the event, women who have dedicated their careers to the textile industry in the country for years shared their journeys in building a business in the fashion industry.
One of the artisans who attended the celebration is Chandrika Tamang, who started her career as a designer in 2015.
For a decade, her business blended Bhutanese textiles with modern aesthetics. However, she said access to capital and market remains a challenge for fashion business.
“I think for all the designers here, we do not have a very strong platform, funding, skill, and training. When I started, I was actually funded by the Loden Foundation as a startup. And then, when I wanted to scale up the business, it was difficult to get financial support. But I think in Bhutan, they are more focused on startup than scaling up,” said Chandrika Tamang.
Meanwhile, Stella Jean, a renowned Italian fashion designer with a name in the global fashion industry, such as Vogue Italia and Milan Fashion Week, expressed that Bhutanese textiles have the potential to thrive in the international market.
Stella Jean said, “In terms of fashion, which is always strongly related with story, geography, politics, history of the country, and in your case, it is so evident and so immediate. And I feel like the rest of the world could look at you since you are leading with your example, see the real meaning of fashion and the powerful tool it is to preserve your cultural heritage.”
The event is part of a project between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment and the Food and Agriculture Organization aimed at strengthening high-value mountain products such as Bhutanese textiles.
“So what we are doing under this project is to link the artisans in Bhutan with international designers, showcasing Bhutan’s rich textile heritage and artistry to the international market through technical exchange, capacity building and collaborative co-creation,” said Ken Shimizu, the Country Representative, FAO Bhutan.
The day was celebrated on the UN International Women’s Day theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,”
The Bhutan Chapter of the World Food Forum coordinated the event in collaboration with the Royal Textile Academy, Mountain Partnership, and FAO Bhutan.
Singye Dema
Edited by Sangay Chezom
