Exhibition at the Royal Textile Academy

31-10-2025

    

I'm proud to share that my collection is now being exhibited at the Royal Textile Academy (RTA) in Thimphu.

The exhibition celebrates Bhutanese craftsmanship through a contemporary lens — showing how traditional textiles like the kira and gho can be reimagined for modern design. Each piece in the collection is made from upcycled fabrics: old national dresses collected through community collaborations with Tarayana Foundation, She-Cycle, and local artisans.

For me, exhibiting at RTA feels deeply meaningful. It's not only a place that preserves Bhutan's textile heritage, but also one that encourages innovation and dialogue between past and present.

This project represents everything I believe in — cultural connection, craftsmanship, and sustainability rooted in everyday Bhutanese life.
I hope it can inspire others to see that what we already have — our traditions, our materials, and our creativity — can lead us toward a more thoughtful future in fashion.

    

These shorts are made from used gho fabrics, reworked into a modern, silhouette. Each pair retains the original gho lining - while a strip of kira detailing runs along the side, blending masculine and feminine craftsmanship. The design highlights how heritage and reuse can coexist through thoughtful reconstruction.
These shorts are made from used gho fabrics, reworked into a modern, silhouette. Each pair retains the original gho lining - while a strip of kira detailing runs along the side, blending masculine and feminine craftsmanship. The design highlights how heritage and reuse can coexist through thoughtful reconstruction.
This denim two-piece combines old denim garments with leftover textile pieces from Bhutanese tailors. The pants feature denim panels made from a used dress sewed into the sides, while fragments of tailor’s leftovers are added, giving the clothes a touch of the beautiful bhutanese traditional weaving culture.
This denim two-piece combines old denim garments with leftover textile pieces from Bhutanese tailors. The pants feature denim panels made from a used dress sewed into the sides, while fragments of tailor’s leftovers are added, giving the clothes a touch of the beautiful bhutanese traditional weaving culture.
A dress created entirely from waste materials gathered from a Bhutanese tailor - offcuts of gho and kira fabrics. Each piece has been reimagined into a flowing silhouette, celebrating the artistry and resilience of Bhutanese textiles.
A dress created entirely from waste materials gathered from a Bhutanese tailor - offcuts of gho and kira fabrics. Each piece has been reimagined into a flowing silhouette, celebrating the artistry and resilience of Bhutanese textiles.

This exhibition by Ida Ghaley, a Danish–Bhutanese designer, explores the meeting point between heritage, sustainability, and modern fashion. Her work reimagines Bhutanese textiles — such as gho and kira fabrics — through upcycling and reinterpretation, transforming what already exists into something new.

Every piece in this collection is made from reused materials: discarded ghos and kiras, waste from Bhutanese tailors, and leftover garments from Denmark. Even small details — like original closures, linings, and embroidered panels — are preserved and integrated into new silhouettes, giving the fabrics a second life while maintaining their cultural story.

Through this process, Ida Ghaley highlights the inherent sustainability of Bhutanese textiles, which are often worn and repurposed for decades. Her work shows that true sustainability lies not only in materials, but in mindset — in valuing what already has history and meaning.

The exhibition also reflects a series of local collaborations that unite design with community and purpose: A big thanks goes to Tarayana Foundation, Bhutan Football Federation and She-Cycle.

Upcycled Gho

This two-piece is crafted from a 30 year old Bhutanese gho, reimagined into a modern two-piece while honoring the fabric's original life. The texture, weight, and woven details from the gho are preserved, allowing its cultural identity to remain visible within a clean, contemporary silhouette.


In Bhutan, garments are cherished and worn for decades. This piece continues that tradition by giving existing fabric new purpose rather than replacing it. The suit keeps key elements such as the original lining and traditional detailing, blending heritage with Scandinavian structure and simplicity.

The result is a design that connects past and present - a celebration of Bhutanese craftsmanship, mindful making, and the quiet strength of upcycled materials.

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