A priceless national treasure, scattered to the four corners of the earth . . .
A band of committed individuals, determined to restore a sacred legacy to its rightful owners . . .
A Queen and her government, aligning to create a museum to protect a precious heritage . . .
And the birth of a shared vision: to preserve this treasure for posterity, to display it for the eyes of the world, and to ethically sustain the artists who create it anew.
This is the story of how the Friends of the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan (FRTAB), in collaboration with Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck and the Royal Government of Bhutan, collaborated to recover the priceless textiles of Bhutan, and then conceived the vision of a dynamic academy to protect and sustain this unique and emblematic art form (How it All Began).
20 years later, this vision has materialized into the Royal Textile Academy, a thriving modern complex and a beacon for all who seek to grow in their understanding of one of the world’s oldest and most sacred art forms. We invite you to learn more about FRTAB’s mission to preserve this vital heritage and support us in crafting a sustainable future for the textile artists of Bhutan and generations of weavers to come.
“The heartbeat of our heritage and the fabric of our future now reside in a world-class destination, thanks to the Friends of the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan. Travelers, artists, explorers, innovators — we invite you to visit our state-of-the-art museum, our training academy, our business and cultural centre, and experience for yourselves the vibrant pulse of Bhutan.”
–Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, Patron, Royal Textile Academy
FRTAB extends deep appreciation to Suparno Banerjee for many of the photographs throughout this website.