ILAMON BANRISA THANGKHIEW
TEXTILE DESIGNER & MAKER
EDUCATION
Royal College of Art, London | 2023-2024
MA RCA Textiles
National Institute of Design, Andhra Pradesh India | 2017-2021
B.Des in Textile and Apparel design
Ilamon is a London-India based textile designer and maker with a Masters degree from the Royal College of Art. She explores in unraveling folk stories and the natural world through woven textiles and surface development. Her approach to textile design intertwines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics. Ilamon has a keen eye for details and she enjoys working with natural materials and colours. Her work is deeply hands-on which is deeply connected in her creative process.
Driven by a passion for interiors, surfaces, and spaces for their limitless possibilities and freedom they offer. She is the founder of studio ila, and she works closely with the artisans and the weaving community of Meghalaya to preserve the skills and uplifting the craft. Her experience in handcrafted sector has helped shaped her creative identity and discovering her values and practice.
Rooted in her Khasi tribal heritage surrounded by sacred forests, living root bridges, cascading waterfalls, clear rivers, and hidden caves. Ilamon tells her story through textiles, creating pieces that reflect her connection to nature and culture.
EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWS
Future Icons Select | London Craft week | 2025
Interrogating the unseen | Royal College of Art, London | 2024
Textiles in the Making| Upper Gulbenkian Gallery, London | 2024
Ateliers Meghalaya Awards| Courtyard by Marriott, Shillong | 2023
Winter tales festival | Shillong, India | 2022
Sutr Santati Then. Now. Next | National Museum, New Delhi, India | 2022“Celebrating India through the continuum of Indian heritage textiles”Northeast edit found. Curated. Edited | Shillong, India | 2021
ACHIEVEMENTS
Represented Meghalaya as a Designer at the Lace and Fashion Museum Exhibition | Calais, France | 2022
Featured in the Voice of fashion | India | 2022
Featured in Architectural Digest India | 2022
Prime awards | Shillong, india | 2021
Honoured for her initiatives in ramie fiber innovation and sustainable community development in Garo Hills, Hills, under the Ateliers Meghalaya program supported by Meghalayan Age Limited (MAL).
Feel free to reach out for any inquiries—I’d love to hear from you!
