SAPNA LAMA
Designer and founder Sapna Lama believes her work rooted in the textures, traditions and quiet power of the Himalayas. It is less about trends and more about truth. Through her artisan-led house Weaves & Blends and her namesake label Sapna Lama, she has built a universe where heritage is honoured, craftsmanship is elevated and sustainability is simply the way things are done.
Her story, like her textiles, is richly layered; grounded in a childhood surrounded by Nepal’s craft traditions yet shaped by a modern sensibility that speaks to global audiences. In this month’s DESIGNS ON YOU segment, we step into her world; one woven from intention, identity, and an unshakable respect for the handmade.
When asked what first set her on this creative journey, Sapna traces it back to her childhood in Nepal, a place where fibres and fabrics were not merely materials but storytellers. Growing up, she watched artisans spin, weave and dye with a reverence that felt almost sacred. “Textiles felt like a language,” she reflects, “and I wanted to learn every dialect of it.” This early fascination did not just inform her career; it shaped her worldview. She learned to see beauty not in flawless precision but in the tactile, the imperfect, the deeply human.
In 2003, that spark took form as Weaves & Blends, an artisan-driven company dedicated to preserving Himalayan craftsmanship on a global stage. As her vision evolved, she launched the Sapna Lama label, born from a more intimate space where design becomes both personal expression and cultural translation. What inspired her then continues to inspire her now: curiosity, heritage, and a devotion to elevate Nepal’s soulful craft in a contemporary world.
At a time when sustainability has become a buzzword, Lama’s approach is refreshingly earnest. For her, it is not a concept to implement; it is the foundation on which everything stands. At Weaves & Blends, every stage happens in-house through local artisans: hand-spinning, pot-dyeing, weaving, and finishing. Natural fibres like cashmere, yak, and wool are the backbone of their collections, coupled with azo-free dyes and low-impact processes that minimise water use and waste. Crucially, the brand’s ethical ethos extends far beyond materials. Many artisans are women who can work from home or within the workshops, ensuring financial independence without sacrificing family life. “Scaling doesn’t mean faster,” Lama explains. “It means deeper growing responsibly while maintaining the soul of the handmade.” In a world eager for instant everything, her approach is almost radical.
With her brand gaining global visibility, Lama remains committed to one guiding aesthetic: quiet luxury. The kind that speaks softly yet lingers. At the heart of Sapna Lama is a philosophy of minimalism, sculptural silhouettes, and natural palettes that beautifully merge modern design with Nepal’s spirit. For her, relevance is not about trend-chasing. “It’s about creating timeless workpieces that transcend seasons and markets.” The result is a body of work that feels deeply authentic, global in sensibility yet grounded in heritage.
Lama’s entrepreneurial path, while deeply fulfilling, has not been without challenges. In Nepal, building a fashion business, especially as a woman, required constant resilience. She had to prove that creativity and commerce could coexist, that intuition carried value, and that leadership could be compassionate without being fragile. The tension between creativity and management, family and work, softness and structure, once a challenge became her superpower. She learned to see duality not as conflict, but as balance. “It allowed me to build an ecosystem where compassion and craftsmanship thrive together,” she says. Her leadership is not about control; it is about creating space. Space for artisans, ideas, and growth.
To women entrepreneurs forging something meaningful, Lama offers this simple yet profound advice: “Believe in the quiet power of your own rhythm. You don’t have to move fast to go far; you must move with intention.” Like the threads in her textiles, she reminds us that the most beautiful things like brands, creations and lives are strengthened by patience. Stay rooted. Surround yourself with those who share your values. Trust the process, even when the world demands immediacy.
