Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
December 20, 2025 Culture and education
Bhutanese tradition, innovation, and women's empowerment are intertwined in a collection of clothing created with ethical fashion principles and UN support.
Far away in Bhutan, on a cliff in the Himalayan Mountains, approximately two thousand meters above sea level, a woman sits. Bending over a loom, she weaves cloth and chants, continuing the centuries-old spiritual tradition of storytelling.
This weaver hails from the village of Goenpa-Kabab, home to a matriarchal Buddhist community. The local women take great pride in their skill in sewing traditional silk dresses, called kishuthara, which they decorate with intricate patterns. Historically, some members of this community even served as weavers for Bhutanese queens and princesses.
Weaving is a tradition passed down from mother to daughter in these mountain communities. As the primary breadwinners in their families, women spend entire days at the loom, earning a living through their artistic craftsmanship while simultaneously preserving the heritage of the past.
Weaver Sherab Tsomo, now 41, began mastering the art of kishutjara dress making at the age of eight. Making a dress requires more than just weaving the fabric; it's a painstaking process that involves dyeing raw silk with local plants like indigo, washing, boiling, and sun-drying it. Finally, it's spun into yarn, which the weavers use on a traditional sash loom to hand-weave intricate patterns using a technique called trima.
While these woven products are highly valued both in Bhutan and abroad, many artisans continue to face difficulties in accessing wider international markets, including the global fashion industry.
"We have to rely on people to transport these fabrics from our village to the urban areas," says Sherab. "Furthermore, we know almost nothing about entrepreneurship, accounting, and marketing. And although new technologies have given us access to smartphones, we still haven't learned how to use them properly."
© FAO/Sonam Yangzom
Sherab Tshomo followed in her mother's footsteps: she has been involved in the art of sewing kishuthara dresses since childhood.
Traditions of mountain communities go out into the world
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan, is bringing Bhutanese weavers to the wider world. As part of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat's "Fashion for Fragile Ecosystems" project, funded by the Italian Development Cooperation and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Employment of Bhutan, efforts are underway to establish collaboration between an international fashion brand and artisans from remote mountain communities to promote the use of traditional fabrics in fashion design at the international level.
Under the auspices of this initiative, FAO Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador and fashion designer Stella Jean visited Bhutan, where she collaborated closely with local designers and artisans from the village of Goenpa Kabab to create a capsule collection featuring kishuthara dresses. Drawing on traditional weaving techniques and appliqué and embroidery techniques, the women collaborated to create a vibrant and contemporary collection, which was presented at Milan Fashion Week.
"Before training through this project, I hadn't even considered selling our fabrics to international markets to create contemporary clothing," says Sherab. "I used only traditional weaving methods and made simple bags and tablecloths for tourists visiting Bhutan. Now I understand the opportunities available in international markets and how to collaborate in the textile industry."
This collaborative project was made possible, in part, by the expertise and experience of Chandrika Thaman and Tashi Tsangmo, two Bhutanese fashion designers who contributed crucially to the creation of this collection. Chandrika Thaman adheres to the principles of zero-waste design and uses recycled materials to create artistically meaningful garments and textiles while simultaneously promoting the empowerment of women, including single mothers.
Tashi Tsangmo, widely known by her stage name Wanpe Couture, is an entrepreneur in Thimphu, Bhutan's capital. She has been designing clothing since 2015, drawing on her business experience and the Bhutanese weaving traditions that are inextricably linked to her life. Growing up in a family of skilled weavers, Tashi was inspired to become a fashion designer by her mother's example – it was through her that she developed a deep love for traditional craftsmanship, which continues to play a defining role in shaping her designs. She believes this project will launch a new generation of weavers who embrace innovative techniques in their work.
"Traditional weaving is an art for the patient, as a single piece can take several months, sometimes even over a year, to complete. Yet, I believe these challenges are the essence of our craft. Unlike machine-made fabrics, each piece, crafted by a skilled artisan, is imbued with patience and soul. This is what makes them unique," says Tashi.
Fashion Protects Fragile Ecosystems
Now, the creations of Sherab, Chandrika, Tashi, and other Bhutanese artisans have appeared on fashion runways, introducing the world to ethical mountain clothing traditions. At the same time, the creativity of Bhutanese designers is promoting female entrepreneurship and improving the well-being of mountain residents.
Bhutanese designers and artisans retain the intellectual property rights to the collaborative collection presented in Milan by Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean, allowing them to continue to produce and sell pieces from the collection to customers worldwide through their own channels.
Furthermore, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, through the Mountain Partnership Products (MPP) initiative, organized training for 18 artisans on product branding, supply chain sustainability, and certification processes. From now on, Kishutjara and Yatthara textiles will carry MPP labels, providing consumers with information about their production methods and locations.
The initial phase of the "Fashion for Fragile Ecosystems" project involves establishing collaboration between artists and artisans from the world's most remote regions and international fashion brands. The project's impact extends beyond ethical fashion: it demonstrates how tangible cultural heritage can evolve, combining the knowledge of many generations and innovation to create new opportunities for women living in mountainous regions.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
