Renu Shrestha and the Rise of Traditional Alley

Peoples
Fashion
The Buzz Nepal
July 18 , 2025

Where tradition Meets Innovation: The Bold, Grounded Vision of Renu Shrestha

In Nepal’s rapidly evolving fashion scene, where trends often favor the flashy and disposable, Renu Shrestha’s work stands in stark contrast. Her brand Traditional Alley isn’t just about designing pretty clothes, it’s a grounded, intentional movement to preserve Nepal’s textile legacy while keeping pace with the demands of a modern wardrobe.

From Freelance to Fashion Force

After graduating in fashion design in 2012, Renu didn’t rush into launching a label. She spent nearly a decade freelancing and building a digital presence, quietly studying what people actually wanted. Her YouTube channel wasn’t just a portfolio, it was research. What she found was a recurring gap: women wanted culturally rooted attire that didn’t cost a fortune or feel outdated. By 2019, she launched Traditional Alley: a label that married Nepali craftsmanship with accessible, globally aware design.

Traditional Alley: A Name with Purpose

The name isn’t just aesthetic. Traditional Alley is Renu’s metaphorical path; a narrow but deliberate space where culture and style walk side by side. For her, this isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about survival. Many of the fabrics she works with especially Dhaka were crafted years ago, sometimes even abandoned in storage, made by artisans who had little recognition and fewer resources. Renu doesn’t just use these fabrics. She reimagines them.

Dhaka Reworked: Past Meets Provocation

One of Renu’s most talked-about moves was designing corsets using Dhaka, a fabric typically associated with formal, conservative attire. It was a risky fusion: taking a garment known for structure and sensuality and merging it with something so culturally symbolic. The result was polarizing, and that’s exactly what made it powerful. It proved that tradition isn’t something fragile. It can adapt, evolve, and still retain meaning.

Collaboration Over Exploitation

Unlike many brands that use “artisan-made” as a buzzword, Renu actually works closely with the weavers. Some are independent artisans, others are tied to co-ops or weaving committees. What matters to her is understanding the story behind each textile. Different regions in Nepal produce distinct Dhaka patterns, each with specific colors, motifs, and weaving techniques. Renu’s designs don’t just use these patterns, they honor them.

Fashion That Outlasts Trends

Renu is not interested in feeding the fast fashion machine. Her clothes are made to last and not just physically, but emotionally. She’s designing heirlooms, not just outfits. In a world where wardrobes turn over every few months, she encourages slower, more meaningful fashion. Her Infinity Dress, a multipurpose outfit that can be styled five different ways, is a good example. It’s not about having more, it’s about doing more with what you already have.

Looking ahead, Renu is focused on collections for 2024 and 2025 that celebrate the raw beauty of Nepali textiles. Whether it’s a graduation outfit, wedding wear, or everyday clothing that doesn’t compromise on identity, her work continues to bridge gaps; between generations, between aesthetics, and between sustainability and accessibility.

Renu Shrestha isn’t trying to become the next Prabal Gurung or Tseten Bhutia but it’s clear she draws from their ambition. Her work is humble, rooted, and refreshingly unfiltered. She isn’t here to play it safe. She’s here to challenge what tradition means and who gets to define it.