An exhibition of Nepal’s indigenous handcrafts

Thinley Namgay 

An exhibition of Nepalese home décor ‘Timeless Creation’ opened to public at the Royal Textile Academy (RTA) in Thimphu, yesterday.  

Her Majesty the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck graced the opening ceremony of the exhibition by the Heirloom Artisans from Kathmandu. 

Twenty-six different collections featuring soft furnishing, cashmere throws and wraps, thangkas, wall hangings, tapestry and cushions among others were exhibited during the event. 

The designer and founder of Heirloom Artisan, Nilam Pande, said that although aesthetically modified, the designs of the exhibits have been passed on since generations, thus the theme, timeless creation.     

It is an opportunity for designers to learn from each other, she said adding that both the countries have similar raw materials and artisans. “However, we work in different ways to promote our own culture and tradition. If we work together, there is a possibility of producing magical artisan products.” 

Nilam Pande said that her company focuses on adding value to the local products and encourage artisans to carry out their work in a sustainable way. “For this event we took almost an year to prepare. For us, it is very important that our products have an image in the international market.” 

RTA’s executive director, Rinzin O Dorji, said, the exhibition is a platform for the Bhutanese designers and artisans to learn on finishing, quality and the presentation of products.

She said that the idea of showcasing the artisan products in Bhutan came from Her Majesty the Queen Mother during her visit to Heirloom Artisans last year.

Heirloom Artisan is a design company in Kathmandu, started in 2002. It produces quality handcrafts using natural fibers from Nepal without adopting western style of designs. 

The products at the exhibition will also be available for purchase.