KASA's Himalayan Runway Fashion at 3,000 Meters, Bajura Wool in The Spotlight
KASA Brings Farm-to-Fashion Runway to 3,000 Metres in Bajura
Bajura’s sheep wool shared the spotlight with Nepali celebrities and international fashion professionals as KASA staged a runway at approximately 3,000 metres above sea level. Held on 4 November 2026 at Lamasim, near Porkhe Lake, the Farm to Fashion – Climate Awareness Runway 2026 brought contemporary design to a Himalayan setting, with local farmers and their wool at the centre of the story.
Organised by Threads of the Himalayan Foundation in collaboration with KASA, the event explored how a traditional rural resource could find a wider market through fashion. Alongside the garments, it highlighted the work needed to connect sheep farmers, wool processors, artisans and designers.
Actress Shweta Khadka, Miss Nepal World 2016 Ashmi Shrestha, and model and actress Niti Shah were among the personalities featured. Fashion professionals from Europe added an international dimension to a showcase focused on Bajura’s materials, skills and landscape.
Nepali Stars and International Fashion Guests
The Nepali lineup included Miss Nepal World 2024 Aashma Kumari KC, Miss Nepal World 2026 Deepmala Dhakal, Miss Nepal International 2025 Urusha Bhandari, fashion model Bhawana Pant, and actor and model Ayushman Deshraj Joshi.
International participants included Italian-French stylist and talent scout Flavia Cannata, Lithuanian model GabrielÄ— TevainytÄ—, Italian fashion professional and former model Cristina Egger, and Ukrainian participant Marharyta Pohosian.
Cannata, founder of Alwaysupportalent, brought her background in styling and talent scouting to the gathering. TevainytÄ—’s modelling experience includes luxury-brand collaborations and editorial appearances.
Their participation placed Bajura’s wool before an audience extending beyond Nepal’s fashion industry. The broader ambition is to turn that visibility into lasting connections between local producers and commercial markets.
From Sheep Wool to Contemporary Clothing
The runway’s central material came from an industry with considerable room to grow. Bajura reportedly has more than 70,000 sheep, while neighbouring Bajhang and Darchula also have wool-production potential. Limited collection, processing and manufacturing facilities, however, remain barriers to developing that resource into a stronger source of income.
The presentation showcased how locally sourced sheep wool could be used in contemporary garments. For KASA, founded and led by Ramila Nemkul Shrestha, the initiative forms part of an effort to bring farmers, artisans and fashion businesses closer together.
A proposed wool collection and processing facility in Bajura is an important part of that plan. Developing local capacity to prepare wool and produce textiles could create employment and help communities earn more from the material they supply.
Women involved in livestock care and textile work could also benefit from opportunities in processing, garment production and small businesses. These remain intended outcomes, dependent on investment, training and reliable demand.
Climate Awareness Begins with Production
The event’s climate-awareness theme encouraged attention to where clothing materials come from and how they are processed.
By focusing on local wool and community-based production, the initiative linked fashion with questions about livelihoods, resource use and the future of traditional skills. Its wider message was that the story of a garment begins well before it reaches the runway.
Turning that message into measurable progress will require more than a showcase. Processing methods, production practices and dependable market access will all matter as the initiative develops.
A Runway That Also Showcased Bajura
The location gave the programme a tourism dimension. Lamasim’s mountain setting, near Porkhe Lake and the wider Badimalika region, offered a backdrop for introducing Bajura’s landscape and local culture to visiting guests.
The programme reportedly brought a 55-member delegation from Kathmandu. Photography and event coverage provided opportunities to draw attention to a district with cultural, religious and nature-based tourism attractions.
Chef Santosh Shah added a culinary element to the gathering. Traditional instruments, including the dholak and damaha, brought local cultural expression into the programme.
The event also drew representatives from government, business, agriculture, tourism and development organisations.
Guests included former Minister Shraddha Shrestha; former Sudurpaschim Provincial Assembly member Baldev Regmi; Budhinanda Municipality Mayor Janak Bohara; Himali Rural Municipality Chairperson Govinda Malla; and Jagannath Rural Municipality Vice-Chairperson Maru Bista.
Industry and institutional participants included Pashmina Industry Association President Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, Carpet Industry Association President Bal Bahadur Gurung, Agricultural Development Bank Chief Executive Officer Govinda Gurung, and Arun G.C., associated with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Reported supporting organisations included BYD, LAMINAR, FAO, CHN, MM Group, Lemon Tree, Summit Air, Sita Air and Buddha Air, alongside local hospitality providers and community contributors.
For KASA and Threads of the Himalayan Foundation, the next test is what follows the runway: stronger farmer connections, accessible wool-processing facilities, skilled local production and buyers willing to support it.
At Lamasim, Bajura’s wool became part of a contemporary fashion presentation. Whether that moment leads to a lasting rural industry will depend on the work that continues after the guests leave.





























