DRUK FASHION HOUSE
by Dorothy
I first met Dorothy when I was looking for a seamstress to create an outfit for a tea audience with Her Majesty. At that time, she was teaching at the design school in Thimphu. What immediately drew me to her work was how it gently stepped beyond the expected traditional lines while still honoring them. I combined one of her tops with a traditional kira, a beautiful meeting of contemporary design and Bhutanese heritage.
Then Covid came, and we lost contact.
In 2024, as the Dragon’s Gift Oracle cards were nearing completion, I was still searching for a meaningful way to package them. The idea arose to create small protective bags using fabric from nuns’ robes. Before leaving Hawai‘i for Bhutan, I reached out to Dorothy, asking if she was still designing and whether she might be open to collaborating.
When we met again, I learned she had not been working since the pandemic. Her creative rhythm had quieted. As we began designing the bags together, something subtle shifted. A small flame seemed to rekindle. I remember telling her more than once that such a gifted talent must not remain dormant. Before I left Bhutan, I said gently, “When you feel the spark return, call me. We will help it shine again.”
In the spring of 2025, the message came.
Things moved quickly. She found a shop space. Equipment was needed. Materials had to be sourced. Momentum gathered. Sometimes mentorship means encouragement; sometimes it means helping create the conditions in which vision can take form. By May, the doors opened.
Druk Fashion House was born.
In August 2025, I returned to Bhutan to launch the Dragon’s Gift and to support Dorothy in strengthening her emerging brand. During a conference I attended, I learned that the first International Bhutan Fashion Week was scheduled for November — and all 21 designer places were already filled.
On the evening of my birthday in Thimphu, I was wearing one of Dorothy’s designs. The founder of Fashion Week happened to be present and asked about my coat. It was one of those quiet turning points. I spoke about her work, her craftsmanship, and her vision — and encouraged him to reconsider. Soon after, she was included.
It became her first international platform.
Each of her designs now carries a small dragon coin engraved with the Druk Fashion House emblem, a subtle but powerful signature. Her handbags are works of art, crafted with precision and care. With the right tools in place, her production has become smoother, yet her integrity remains unchanged.
Mentorship, to me, is not about directing someone’s path. It is about standing beside them while they step into their own strength: opening doors when they appear, offering support when needed, and trusting their creative voice.
You can follow Dorothy’s work on Instagram at DrukFashionHouse. Many of my retreat participants have returned home with her pieces: not simply as garments, but as living expressions of contemporary Bhutanese artistry.
Perhaps you will be next.
