Sushmita Dhungana Scores a Double Win on the IIFT Runway
Four emerging designers took top honours at the 13th edition of IIFT School of Fashion and Interior Design’s annual fashion competition, ‘Dress to Impress’, held at the Nepal Academy in Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
The event brought together 155 students from IIFT Bagbazar and IIFT Kumaripati, who presented original fashion creations across four imaginative sequences: ‘Dancing with the Stars’, ‘Around the World’, ‘Galactic Fashion’ and ‘A Parallel Universe’.
Designed as both a competition and a practical showcase, the event gave students an opportunity to develop a concept, create a garment and present their work on the runway.
IIFT Dress to Impress Season 13 Crowns Four Best Student Designers
Four Designers Win Top Honours
In the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ sequence, contestant number 24, Presha Thapa, was named Best Designer. Contestant number 21, Sujata Khanal, received the Public Choice Award in the same category.
Sushmita Dhungana secured a double victory in the ‘Around the World’ sequence, winning both the Best Designer title and the Public Choice Award.
In ‘Galactic Fashion’, contestant number 108, Jaya Thapa, was declared Best Designer, while contestant number 84, Anuradha Bohara Karki, won the Public Choice Award.
Similarly, contestant number 116, Srijana Shrestha, received the Best Designer award in the ‘A Parallel Universe’ sequence. Shriti Pandey won the Public Choice Award in that category.
Each Best Designer received a cash prize of Rs 20,000, while every Public Choice winner was awarded Rs 10,000. The winners also received trophies, certificates and various gifts.
Student Designers Model Their Own Creations at IIFT Dress to Impress Season 13
Students Model Their Own Creations
One of the major highlights of the event was that the student designers modelled their own creations on the runway.
With dramatic lighting, coordinated music and an elaborate stage setup, the nearly three-hour fashion presentation offered the atmosphere of a large-scale international runway show.
The four sequences allowed the students to explore a wide range of visual ideas. Their collections drew inspiration from dance, global cultures, futuristic aesthetics and the concept of parallel universes.
The presentation attracted a full house of fashion enthusiasts, who witnessed the creativity and technical skills of IIFT’s aspiring designers.
IIFT Dress to Impres event attended by actress Diya Maskey, Actress Eliza Gautam, and media personality Oshin Sitaula
Fashion Professionals Join the Judging Panel
The competition was judged by fashion designers and entrepreneurs Mukta Shrestha, Niva Shrestha, Nisha Shrestha, Rajani Mali and Mahesh Maharjan.
Fashion choreographer Rojin Shakya directed the runway presentation.
The event was also attended by actress Diya Maskey, actress Eliza Gautam, Miss Eco International Sejal Rajbhandari and media personality Oshin Sitaula, adding further glamour to the evening.
IIFT Dress to Impress Season 13 Crowns Four Best Student Designers
A Platform for Emerging Nepali Designers
IIFT Managing Director Phupu Tenzing Sherpa said the institution makes extensive preparations every year to ensure that ‘Dress to Impress’ offers students a professional and memorable platform.
According to Sherpa, the event allows students to experiment with new concepts, demonstrate original artistic ideas and sharpen their practical fashion-design skills.
The 13th edition of ‘Dress to Impress’ not only recognised the strongest designs of the evening but also highlighted the growing confidence, creativity and ambition of Nepal’s next generation of fashion professionals.
