Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan

To celebrate the inauguration of the RTA, a fashion show “Window to Woven Dreams” was held at the academy’s plaza on June 6. Six local designers and popular Indian designers like Rajesh Pratap Singh and Ritu Kumar came together to showcase their collections, which were all based on Bhutanese design materials and fabrics.

With the donation of US$ 3 million from the Ferring Group, the third phase of construction; an administrative block, will begin. This building will offer 32,000 sq. ft of professionally-built and maintained office space for rent. Plans for the fourth phase include the construction of a banquet hall that would seat over a thousand people.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals, announced during the inauguration a second $3 million donation to the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan to support its mission to preserve and promote Bhutanese textiles and improve the livelihoods of the weavers who make them.

At the opening of the new Royal Textile Academy facilities in Thimphu, Bhutan, Michel Pettigrew, President of the Ferring Executive Board, said, “We are very keen that this major cultural initiative of preserving Bhutan’s traditional skills and heritage continues, and that the commercial momentum which will enhance the quality of life and economic prospects of the weavers will be able to grow over the next few years.