KATHMANDU, Jan 3: London-based fashion designer Sanyukta Shrestha, who has carved a niche for herself in the London fashion scene by designing wedding gowns, has now created history.
Her haute couture wedding gown titled Pippa and made from 30-year-old newspapers, has made it to the collection in The Fashion Museum - Bath, listed by CNN as one of the world´s top 10 fashion museums. It houses world-famous designers like Alexander McQueen and John Galliano. [break]
Shrestha has thus become the first designer of Nepali origin to be documented in the history of The Fashion Museum.
“This is surely one of the happiest moments of my life as a designer,” the overjoyed designer told Republica in an interview.
A world class collection of contemporary and historical dresses, the Museum was started in 1963 and includes iconic attire, some dating way back to the 1600´s.
Elly Summers, museum curator and collection assistant, said, “The Pippa wedding dress by Sanyukta Shrestha is the first of its kind in the Fashion Museum collection - we do not have another wedding dress made from up-cycled paper and as such we felt that it would be a very interesting addition to the collection. It is a very striking piece and wedding dress is an area that attracts much interest,” according to a press release issued by the museum. “When the Pippa gown is not on display, it will be accessible through the museum´s Study facility´ Summers added.
The collection of garments and accessories at the Fashion Museum numbers in excess of 80,000 objects and includes rare examples of dresses from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean period to those from contemporary designers such as the dress of the year 2011 by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The oldest wedding dress in the collection is that of Mary Jago, dated 1787. The most up-to-date is the Pippa wedding dress by Sanyukta Shrestha, 2012.
The museum, in a press release, has quoted Shrestha as saying, “In a world that can be so preoccupied it is easy to forget that every object around us has its own story. It was such an amazing journey I had in making this gown from the 30-year-old newspapers. Now I feel very privileged and honoured to pass on Pippa to her new home - The Fashion Museum - where she will become part of this wonderful institution, a historic journey for her as a unique piece of art.”
Sanyukta Shrestha, who started off as an official designer for Miss Nepal 1998, graduated from a fashion school in London and struggled to make her mark. And she has managed to make her mark, that too in a big way. She has now become one of the most talked about bridal wear designers in the UK, with her designs hanging in well-known luxury bridal boutiques in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
After getting the Best Wedding Newcomer in The Perfect Wedding Award 2011 and Bridal Innovation Award in JP Selects Excellence Award 2011, Shrestha received her latest accolades at the Source Award 2012 which conferred on her the title of Brand Leader (Highly Commended).
With her ´Love Green-Believe in Ethics´ ethos, Shrestha creates stunning gowns with her unique vision that embraces handmade luxury and sustainable eco-friendly fabrics. Her collection offers desirable bridal gowns that express elegant style through beautiful silhouettes and acute attention to detail, according to available information. “Each style within this exquisite collection follows ecologically green guidelines, with fabrics from ethical and fair trade-certified manufacturers around the world.”
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