Sometimes a career does not begin with a fixed plan. Sometimes it begins with curiosity, something that catches your attention and stays with you until it slowly becomes a part of who you are.
For Alina Shrestha, that curiosity started when she was a teenager in Kathmandu, discovering Harajuku street fashion from Tokyo through the internet. At 14, she came across styles like Lolita, Gyaru, Shironuri, and Decora. Beyond the clothing itself, what fascinated her was the freedom behind it. The idea that fashion could be a way of expressing identity and individuality. Growing up in a culture where people are often encouraged to be more reserved, seeing people use fashion so openly felt different. It was not just about clothes, it was about the confidence to present in your own way. That early interest eventually became the foundation of her journey into fashion.
After high school, Shrestha decided to explore fashion more seriously, although she had no technical background at the time, no sewing, no draping no pattern-making. She began by learning the basics through a 10-day workshop at Chuolag Studio. Later, she joined Atelier Lagom Nepal, where she worked with designer Hana Rai, who had trained in Hong Kong.
Her time at Atelier Lagom gave her the opportunity to explore different areas of creativity, from sewing and mixed media work to styling clothes for celebrities. During this period, a suggestion from Hana Rai became an important turning point while encouraging her to pursue fashion design instead of merchandising. That single comment redirected her portfolio, and ultimately her career.
However, the journey was not without challenges.
Shrestha’s first attempt to get into her dream school, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, was unsuccessful, a rejection that hit harder than she had expected. Instead of stopping there, she continued her studies at Kent State University. But New York remained a goal, especially because of the opportunities and exposure it offered. After three semesters, she applied to FIT again and was accepted.
Moving to New York opened a new chapter, but entering the fashion industry required more than just education. The summer before starting at FIT, she met an FIT graduate in Nepal who was launching her own brand. Shrestha shared her goals, and that connection led to her first internship in New York, her entry point into an industry she had been working toward since she was 14. During her time at FIT, she gained experience in different areas of fashion, including activewear at Delta Galil, intimates at Dreamwear, and knitwear at LI & Fung. New York internships are competitive, and paid ones even more so. She applied consistently, maintained relationships with everyone she worked with, and reached out to people directly on LinkedIn, that persistence opened most of the doors that followed.
While exploring different fields, she eventually discovered a stronger interest in accessories. A handbag design class during her fourth semester became a major moment in finding the area she wanted to focus on.
From there, she gained experience through different roles while working as a design assistant at O5 Group, moving into accessories technical design at J.Crew, and freelancing in hard accessories at AEO. Later, she applied for a handbag design associate role at Ralph Lauren. Her portfolio, including a handbag she had designed and created herself, helped her secure the opportunity. Today, she continues working there as a freelance handbag design associate. Even while building her career in New York, Shrestha maintained her connection with Nepal. During a summer break, she created a 10-piece sustainable collection under her own brand, Gofu Studio. The collection included trousers, tops, a vest, a hat, and a tote bag, all made using plant-based fabrics such as cotton and hemp. She managed the process from designing to production and created the collection within three months with support from friends and family. Some pieces were later presented through a pop-up event in Jhamsikhel.
Her journey from Kathmandu to New York is not a story of one sudden success. It is a series of small steps, discovering an interest, learning new skills, facing rejection, trying again, and slowly finding her place in the industry.
For young designers from Nepal, her experience shows that entering a global field does not mean leaving behind where you come from. The experiences, culture, and perspectives you carry can become a part of what makes your work different. For Shrestha, it all started with a curiosity she followed that eventually led her from Kathmandu to the fashion world of New York.
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