I am a fifth year architecture student at the College of Science and Technology, Rinchending, Phuentsholing. My design journey began with a personal need to preserve pieces of clothing I loved but could no longer use as it gave way to time. Inspired by Bhutanese architectural art and traditional motifs, I started reviving my favorite tegos and other garments by using paint, embroidery, and cultural symbolism.
My work is deeply inspired by Bhutanese heritage but reflects a minimalist and modern sensibility. I am particularly influenced by the silent beauty of traditional design, the kind that does not seek attention but leaves a quiet impact. My understanding of Bhutanese culture, its spiritual depth, and its strong visual language are at the core of everything I create.
Creative experiences
My journey has been entirely self-taught and emotionally driven. Though I do not have a formal training in fashion design, my background in architecture taught me to observe details, think in layers, and find harmony in contrast. Over the years, I’ve explored “upcycling” not just as a sustainable practice but as a form of storytelling. Here, a torn sleeve, a faded patch, or a stained fabric becomes an opportunity to heal through design.
My signature style lies in refined simplicity. I focus on subtle transformations using old garments, giving them new life, while keeping their soul intact. What sets my designs apart is the balance between cultural reverence and creative reinterpretation. My work aims to quietly empower, not overpower.
Some of my notable design experiments include wearable art pieces such as a ragged coat revived with a hand-painted eternal knot and khadhar, and three different cultures (Japanese, Western and Bhutanese) themed upcycled shoe that presented diverse culture as one.
Fashion vision BFW 2025
My collection for Bhutan Fashion Week 2025 is titled “Stitching the Soul: A Story of Healing, Heritage, and Self-Love.” It is a performative runway experience that narrates the emotional evolution of self-love, starting from self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and depression, and ending in self-acceptance and inner peace.
The clothes will reflect this journey not only through design but also through motion and mood. Each garment is either reconstructed from diverse textiles or created using thoughtful restoration techniques, highlighting that healing, like design, is a process.
This collection also challenges the traditional boundaries of Bhutanese kira, proposing new ways of wearing it without losing its identity. I want to showcase that culture can evolve gracefully with time.
I hope BFW 2025 becomes a platform to shift conversations around fashion in Bhutan towards sustainability, emotional intelligence, and cultural reinterpretation.
What More?
Soignée Artisan is a brand built on the values of quiet luxury, restoration, and cultural storytelling. I believe fashion can be a deeply personal and restorative act, not just of cloth, but of the self. This collection is a step toward that vision.
