Sanyukta Shrestha Brings ‘The Newars, 1901’ to London Fashion Week

LONDON, UK – Nepalese-born British designer Sanyukta Shrestha unveiled her visionary Spring/Summer 2026 collection, The Newars, 1901, during London Fashion Week on 19 September 2025, at the historic 1901 Ballroom, Andaz London Liverpool Street.

The highly anticipated showcase imagined a Newar woman from Kathmandu stepping into the heart of the British Empire in 1901. It reinterpreted the sacred artistry of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley through the lens of Victorian London’s romanticism.
“Holding the show in this historic ballroom was no accident; it was a perfect time capsule,” said Shrestha. “I wanted to arrive in the Victorian era, bringing my ancestors, their skills, and their stories with me. This was about placing our sacred symbols onto the canvas of a Western silhouette.”

The collection blended dramatic silhouettes with a symbolic palette of red, white, black, and gold, reflecting Newari cultural clothing. Key highlights included the hand-embroidered Kumari Gown, the hand-printed Ranjana Coat, and an innovative luxury handbag line crafted from biodegradable fruit leather and surplus leathers. Each bag featured hand-carved brass Vajra handles, symbolising strength and resilience, making them pieces of “personal armour”.

Models embodied this imagined cross-cultural dialogue, styled with Victorian braids interwoven with the Newari sachika, a silk tassel representing life force and ancestral connection.

Shrestha’s work was not only a celebration of heritage but also a statement of sustainability and ethical fashion. Using hand-spun hemp, bamboo, eco-friendly fabrics, and working with Fair-Trade certified artisans in Nepal, the brand championed circular economy practices while preserving ancestral craftsmanship.

Following the runway show, The Newars, 1901 Exhibition is open to the public from 19–22 September 2025, at Andaz London Liverpool Street. Additionally, a digital showcase will be premiered on the official LFW Main Schedule on 22 September 2025.