SoCultures October 2018
Talented designer is eyeing the international markets too. The local feel and
characters of her hand made designs will appeal to the diverse tastes
SoCultures in a tète à tète with the talented designer…
Tell us about you and your journey, the story behind creating the innovative brand.
“Living in this beautiful city Kathmandu, surrounded by the fascinating arts and
crafts and delightful colours, my inclination was always towards art and crafts
rather that fashion. I was always interested in intricate and meticulous details.
Later, it took the form of fashion. Fashion allows individuals to create and craft
images of their souls, allows them to express their identity.
It has been almost two decades that I have been associated with the fashion
industry. I have worked as a freelancer, lead design teams, collaborated with
international designers and now I have launched my own design house, Kallisto
Designs. I have specialized in hand painting in pure silk, producing silk and
cashmere garments with meticulous detailing. It was a combination of good luck
and good timing but most of all - hard work, enthusiasm, support from family and
friends, specially my husband, who has been a guiding force. There is so much still
to acquire and achieve.
Besides my regular production team, I work with a group of home based women
workers and I believe in ethical sustainable slow fashion works.
I established Kallisto Designs with the vision of promoting exquisite Nepalese
crafts worldwide. My eye for detail and unique individually hand painted design
perspective makes my collection elegant and stylish. My collection is an
amalgamation of culture, tradition, style, texture, colour and stimulating
silhouette.”
What do you think we can increase cultural collaborations and appreciations
between Nepal and other countries? Would you like to talk about the challenges?
110 | P a g e