Studio NEBA: Global by Design
Founded in 2019 by fashion designer Ilse Bos and architect Sagar Chitrakar, multidisciplinary Kathmandu-based design practice Studio NEBA combines geographical influences to create spaces, fashion and furniture
Contrary to what you may guess, Studio NEBA doesn’t take its name from the Japanese village. Instead, the name stems from the founders’ global influences: the ‘NE’ comes from Chitrakar and Bos’s home countries, Nepal and the Netherlands respectively, while the ‘BA' ’comes from Bali, where the couple met and first established the brand.
It was after moving to Bali and filling her days with yoga that Bos realised how much she missed her fashion roots. ‘I worked in fashion for more than 14 years, so in Bali I began creating my own clothes. People liked them, and so I began selling them,’ she says.
‘For some reason I was approached to design an interior, and I asked if they already had an architect. I recommended Sagar to design the space,’ she explains. It was this conversation that first sparked the idea of them working together.
After landing their first joint architecture and interior design job and establishing the studio, Bos and Chitrakar have branched out, with multiple projects spread across the world from Norway to Costa Rica. The couple also made the move to Kathmandu, establishing a studio within the unique curves of the idyllic Taragaon Museum. While the building is loved by the local creative community for its distinctive appearance, in notoriously dusty Kathmandu the space is also prized for the ample greenery that surrounds it. ‘The space directly effects your thinking process. It’s a small hidden gem, a sanctuary,’ says Chitrakar of the inspiring location.
While Bos focuses on the fashion arm of Studio NEBA, architectural references also are evident in the clothing. The brand’s first collection took inspiration from the natural tones and architecture of the various cities the couple have called home.
According to Bos, while they produce contemporary design, the brand’s ethos is ‘culture, craftsmanship and nature’. ‘For us, the most important thing is that we explore more locally, so anywhere we’re building. It doesn’t matter if it’s Costa Rica, Norway, Kathmandu or Bali. What’s most important is that we search for what is locally available and highlight that in the design,’ Bos says.
Text / Elizabeth Beattie
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
Image courtesy of Studio NEBA
