The collection is an imaginative fusion of Victorian grandeur and Nepalese heritage, reimagining what happens when a Newar woman from Kathmandu steps into the heart of the British Empire in 1901. Dramatic silhouettes, a rich palette of red, white, black, and gold, and key pieces such as the hand-embroidered Kumari Gown, hand-printed Ranjana Coat, and a new line of luxury handbags crafted from biodegradable fruit leather and finished with hand-carved Vajra brass handles, all celebrated identity, resilience, and craftsmanship.
Sanyukta Shrestha, a Nepalese-born British designer, is widely recognised as apioneer of sustainable luxury. Her ethos is rooted in eco-conscious design, Fair-Trade partnerships with artisans in Nepal, and the preservation of ancestral skills. She has been honoured with international awards and her work is celebrated for bringing sustainability to the forefront of high fashion.
The show took place at the 1901 Ballroom, Andaz London Liverpool Street, a spectacular historic space originally built as part of the Great Eastern Hotel in 1901. With its breathtaking stained-glass dome and opulent Edwardian architecture, the ballroom was the perfect setting for Shrestha’s narrative of cultural dialogue between Nepal and Victorian Britain.