Handicraft: Felt Making in Nepal
Nepal, heavily known for the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, also has a name as the holy birthplace of the Light of Asia, Lord Buddha. Besides, Nepal is also rich in art, culture, and traditions. The richness of culture can be found reflected in the handicrafts of the Nepalese people.
As intriguing as it is to learn about Nepal’s fascinating history, the art and crafts that have been passed down from the same historical period have not failed to impress. The creation of various landmarks such as monuments and temples serves as a mirror to Nepal’s remarkable architectural history, which is still alive now thanks to the dedicated and art-loving hands of expert craftsmen.
In Nepal, the production of handicrafts is an age-old practice. For the last 25–30 years, the export of handicrafts has been growing. Handicrafts are one of Nepal’s signature products and netted the country Rs5.4 billion in export earnings in 2020 and 2021. Handicraft development aids in the preservation of the country’s national heritage and culture, which in turn helps to alleviate poverty by creating job opportunities.
Felt items, on the other hand, are handcrafted in Nepal by skilled female artisans who work for a variety of businesses. Felt craft is one of the best-selling handicrafts from Nepal. It is a 6,000-year-old technique used in making such art and crafts. Wool is the main raw material for felt handicrafts. However, because to a lack of industrial sheep farming in Nepal for the production of felt items, the raw material is imported from New Zealand. In ancient times, local Nepalese women used to craft things in their leisure period for household purposes, like sheets, knitting, shoes, and baskets made of straw and bamboo.
Everest Fashion, on the other hand, was inspired to uplift women through creating job opportunities, empowering women to be self-reliant, and utilizing their abilities while focusing on felt production. It’s been more than 25 years since Everest Fashion was established. All our felt products are made inside the Kathmandu Valley. The journey began with only ten dedicated employees in the business. Throughout the era, it had some rocky starts. We are proud to say that we presently employ over 500 people. Many of our clients appreciate our felt items.
Some of the remarkable felt products we produce are:
Christmas Holiday Collection
Christmas ornaments are one of our most popular things. It’s commonly used to dress up a Christmas tree. These decorations may also be used to create a garland around a window frame. It can be used as a gift for your loved ones as well.
Stockings
A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag which is usually hung on Christmas Eve to be filled on Christmas morning. They’re usually filled with tiny presents like fruit, nuts, candy, or toys.
Knit Hats
Knit hats are excellent tools for keeping our heads warm, especially during the winter days. Without a hat to keep your head warm, it’s tough to cope or even walk out in the open. It helps you to manage the cold winter.
Crochet Mittens
On a frigid winter day, there’s something wonderful about wearing a pair of handcrafted crochet mittens. They always appear to be a lot warmer than gloves… plus they’re great for creating snowballs.