One of the pioneers of glamour industry, Tenzin Tseten Bhutia is a renowned freelance fashion designer and stylist. He graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore in 2005 and worked as an intern with the official designer of Kingfisher, Mano Viraj Khosla, for one and a half year before officially kick starting his career in Nepal in 2006. He then started working with Himalayan Couture in Kathmandu.

He has showcased his designs in myriad fashion shows and done styling for magazine covers, movies and music videos. His design also won silver medal in Miss Earth 2013 under the ‘Best Evening Gown’ category. Dedicated to the field for more than a decade now, Tenzin’s creative fashion sense has taken the industry to new heights.

In conversation with My City’s Sonam Lama, Tenzin talked about his experience and challenges in the fashion business.

What drew you to stand out of the crowd and make your dream come true?
I was good at Maths and as a result of persistent guidance, I aspired to become a Chartered Accountant despite the fact that I was allured by the glamour and panache of designing and styling.

It was only quite later while I was studying Bachelor’s in Commerce that I realized my passion for fashion designing and decided to choose a path that seemed challenging at every level. However, with my unwavering rigor to work what I loved and the unlimited amount of support from my family and friends I have succeeded to set my foot firm in the field.

What are the challenges facing the fashion scene in Nepal?
Back when I finished my designing course from Bangalore and moved to Nepal in 2006, the concept of fashion and the idea of designer dresses were only limited to movie celebrities. The emergence of designing and styling gradually took hold of the entertainment industry and I feel proud to be a part of this progressive phase that we somehow crossed amidst many setbacks.

The political instability and load shedding were among many challenges that slackened our growth, but eventually the idea of fashion did thrive in Nepal. The other challenge that we are facing right now is lack of initiative from the government to allocate budget for the establishment of cottage and textile industry and lack of human resource in the field.

What measures can be adopted to boost fashion industry in Nepal?
Before opting for any work field, I believe one should have the zeal to give their best be it in any profession. This trait can help the industry grow in a better way. Besides it, the increase in investment to establish textile industries can actually contribute to strengthen human resource resulting to bolstering industrial, financial and economic sectors in Nepal.

How has the scope of fashion changed over the decades?
It is rapidly changing in every respect. With the rise in social media, fashion culture among people has been developing to an extent that people have grown to becoming brand conscious and opt for designer clothes to mark any especial happenings. Moreover, following the development of film industry the style statement of fashion industry is experiencing more creative heights.

Any word of advice to our readers?
Acknowledging your strengths is very important because many a times we are driven by the beliefs that the society sets forth and abiding by them could leave us astray in our career. It rarely matters what profession you opt for, but what actually matters is how far you are going to see yourself in the profession you have chosen. The knowledge that you have gained will only bring about positive impact when you bring it to practice with a greater amount of hard work and love for your work.