Nepali designer creates couture suit featuring Mount Everest embroidery

Designer Shavona Shrestha created an ivory silk suit for actor Thinley Lhamo to wear at the Telluride Film Festival in the United States.

The garment, produced by Shrestha's Kathmandu-based label Jijivisha, features a detailed embroidery of the mountain range across the back. The design incorporates hand-spun silk and traditional Nepali jewelry to represent the country's craftsmanship on an international stage.

Shrestha sourced materials from various regions in Nepal, including silk from cocoons raised in several districts and gemstones like blue sapphire and quartz from the Himalayas. About 20 artisans across Bhaktapur and Patan worked on the piece, which utilizes Pancha Dhatu, a five-metal alloy used in traditional Nepali metalwork. The designer chose to commission family-run workshops rather than using an in-house production unit to help local craftspeople grow their businesses.

The suit served as a tribute to the film 'Tenzing', in which Lhamo plays the wife of Tenzing Norgay. While the look received praise from international producers and directors, Shrestha stated she will not produce another one. She expressed concern over the survival of traditional weaving techniques, noting that many younger people do not want to learn the crafts.