AURA QUE featured in Nepali newspaper: Republica

Many thanks to Sumina Karki for her write up about my work in Nepal, and CIndy Sin Yu Yau for her enthusiasm and help also!

See below:

http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=25806

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Anuradha Koirala, founder of MAITI Nepal, is the CNN Hero for 2010!!

Anuradha Koirala has been awarded the CNN Hero for 2010, in LA on Saturday.  She founded MAITI Nepal in 1993, aiming to help Nepalese women and children affected by domestic violence, trafficking and prostitution, working with over 12,000 individuals.  WIth this award, she was given $100,000 to help continue the work at MAITI! You can see the winning moment in this YouTube clip:

I think its inspiring to see a strong Nepalese woman, with such motivation and kindness, and it is great positive promotion for MAITI and Nepal!! Please see below for more information about MAITI Nepal:

"MAITI Nepal was born out of a crusade to protect Nepali girls and women from crimes like domestic violence, trafficking for flesh trade, child prostitution, child labor and various forms of exploitation and torture. A group of socially committed professionals like teachers, journalists and social workers together formed Maiti Nepal in 1993 to fight against all the social evils inflicted upon our female populace. Most of all, its special focus has always been on preventing trafficking for forced prostitution, rescuing flesh trade victims and rehabilitating them. This social organisation also actively works to find justice for the victimized lot of girls and women by engaging in criminal investigation and waging legal battles against the criminals. It has highlighted the trafficking issue with its strong advocacy from the local to national and international levels."

Please go to www.maitinepal.org

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Tihar Festival of Light - in Nepal

Tihar is a five day Nepalese festival which has been celebrated this week, beginning of November.  Two of these days incorporates the Hindu Festival of Deepavali (Divali), where one day is celebrated for goddess Laxmi and the other one is celebrated to worship brothers for their long life.  All ethnic groups celebrate this festival, and Kathmandu has had a festive vibe for the celebrations.

Little fairy lights and candles decorate all buildings and windows, during this festival of light - the city looks really pretty by night - I loved it!  In one street, they were making this giant floor painting, made from powdered spice, food and colour - it looked so beautiful, with crowds of people having a look at their work!

The fifth and last day of Tihar is Bhai Tika, a day where sisters put tika on forehead of brothers, to ensure long life, and thank them for the protection they give. When the sisters give the tika, the brothers give gifts or money as a return. A special garland is made for the brothers out of a flower that wilts after a couple of months, symbolizing the sister's prayer for her brother's long life.

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AURA QUE gets a mention in Grazia this week!!

I am really pleased that AURA QUE got a mention in fashion magazine, Grazia this week - as a recommended brand for ethical bags by Fashion Conscience founder Lianne Ludlow! Great stuff!

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Momentoes from Nepal....grubby money love notes...aaaah!

So I have been back in the UK madly getting out the A/W 2010 orders for the new season! Been really pleased with the response, with a few reorders already and happy customers!! phew!!

When I was unpacking my stuff from the trip, I found these two nepali bank notes that I had saved....a five rupee (5p) and ten rupee (10p) note........I liked the little love note graffitti on grubby money! I think I am going to start collecting them if I get any more with doodles on, when I go back to Nepal next month.

The five rupee note says 'Do u love me? yes, no' on one side and then 'I love u my boy' on the back - wonder what the story was there? I will never know....

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Escape from the city before I leave Kathmandu

Before I left Kathmandu, with the A/W 2010 production all quality checked and sent to the UK, I managed to get out of the city for 2 days - was a breath of fresh air, quite literally!

It has been quite hard this time to get out the city, with manufacturers having their weekly days off/holidays on different days, there is always some work to do, especially with the manufacturers scattered at opposite ends of the city!  So I was really happy to get out of Kathmandu briefly before I left.  I went to Kurintar, which is 95 km west from Kathmandu, on the way to Pokhara.  With friends, I went camping on the riverside, across the swinging metal footbridge, then up to Mamakamana Temple on the only cable car in Nepal!

Manakamana is the name of a Hindu Goddess, and it is believed that the Goddess fulfils the wishes of people....and if the wish comes true, you have to go back to the temple to thank the gods.  And I am not telling you what I wished for! The ten minute cable car ride from Kurintar to Manakamana, is amazing. It rises over 1000 metres, and has incredible views of the Nepali countryside, though no himalaya views because of the monsoon, but the rain clouds are really eery spilling over the mountains - awesthome! The view kept me silent the whole way up and down.

Though only in Nepal do they stop the cable car for 1.5 hrs for 'lunch' so took us ages to get back down with the endless queues of locals, indian tourists and sacrificed goats in plastic bags....

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Meeting Meera from Sana Hastakala

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]Meera coordinates all the productions at Sana Hastakala where all the Jogi bags and Allo Hemp items are made - efficient and strong willed, she oversees all the women working at the in-house stitching unit and has been working at Sana Hastakala for over 15 years. With many different customers, such as AURA QUE, she manages to juggle all the different products from different designers and companies internationally, with a huge smile.

With her son Sagun, back from working in Bangalore, I went around to their house to meet them and other family members as well as have some fantastic Newari food!  Meera brought up her son and daughter single handedly (now both in their late twenties/early thirties) which I think is really impressive, especially in Nepal.

I had got Meera a watch as a present when I arrived this trip, which she seemed really pleased with - and then she presented me with an AURA QUE brass presentation plaque, designed by Sagun who works in the family business with his Uncle - they produce the brass embossed AURA QUE tags for the new A/W 2010 collection (see the Key Fob). Sooooo cool - another reminder of why I started working here - how kind and welcoming people are!

 

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The best lunch invitation and surprise gift!

 Kumar is one of the sample makers I work with at NLT - its a great process: I will bring the designs and patterns, and we work together to find the best way to make each product with the factory's technical skills - I always learn a new technique or find some tool that I have not used before, so its definately a two way process!

When my sister, Elspeth, came to Nepal with me last winter, she distinctly remembers Kumar whose first words to her were "I am Kumar, I like meat" - very bizarre, but we were being taken for lunch at the time, and his English was a bit stilted at the time....Anyway, we went to his house to meet his family and they were so welcoming and hospitable.  I havent managed to visit since, until this week, when I went for lunch after work (Friday is a half day).  His wife had prepared all the bits of food that Kumar knew I liked from lunches at the factory - roti, pickle, potato curry as well as this fab rice pudding stuff - a right feast!

This time, I got to meet his daughter Alina, who was away last time I visited. She studies Humanities at the local college and I had good conversation with her! She had bought me an amazing gift of this plastic silver/gold photoframe with roses all over it - she was well happy when i told her how good the present was because my middle name (and mother's maiden name) is rose, so it was very appropriate! Though I did have a bit of a paparazzi moment, when she was taking my photo on her phone, of me with my mouth full of all the tasty food

Oh and the first picture of me and the family.....I promise they were happy to hang out with me, despite the solemn faces - it seems to be a Nepali habit to take very serious poses for photos!

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To Bhaktapur to visit Lokta Paper producer and get a face lift (of sorts)

It was great to have a quick trip out the city the other day - a friend took me on a motorbike to Bhaktapur - half an hour east of Kathmandu. It is the third largest city in Kathmandu valley and is listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artwork. Its such a beautiful place - all narrow streets, temples and statues, and busy with everyday life.

I had to go collect some paper products from Aparna and Ram, who run the Peacock Shop, making traditional lokta paper cards, books and gifts.  The traditional Nepalese handmade Lokta paper, known for its durability and special texture, is made from Lokta bark (only the outer bark is collected to ensure the preservation of the trees).  It is produced by a traditional technique, the bark is boiled and the soft pulp spread evenly in a wooden frame in water, and finally sun dried.

Here is Aparna with the press machine used to print onto the lokta paper. And the picture above is me trying out one of the handpainted traditional masks that they also produce - good look for me aye?

Late afternoon is the best time to go to Bhaktapur I reckon - at dusk, you can sit at watch all the locals milling around the temples and statues - great atmosphere.  Though I wasnt keen on the dark motorbike ride back, avoiding the potholes in the rain - just my luck! Worth it though!

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Meet Chimsi, who works at the Nepal Leprosy Trust...

One of the biggest characters I have met in Nepal, is Chimsi, who works at the Nepal Leprosy Trust, doing odd jobs around the building.  The factory where we make some of the AURA QUE leather products, supports the Nepal Leprosy Trust, helping people who have been affected with leprosy, as well as education and empowerment programmes in Kathmandu and the Lalguardh hospital near Janakhpur, South Nepal.

When I am working at NLT, I work directly with the producers in the factory, working out patterns, ways to make new designs etc etc. Its a great way to get to know the workers, though I REALLY need to improve my Nepali language! Chimsi has provided many comedy moments, by walking slowly into the room, and shouting gruff Nepali at me (she is partially deaf) about whether I wanted milk tea, or the weather or whatever...and with her exaggerated movements and funny one liners, she would have the rest of the factory workers in hysterics. Either that or she would creep up on me and give me the fright of my life, or just sit there and watch me work!

She has worked at NLT for over 20 years, and is married to Makuram Nepali, who used to work in the factory before he retired.  They both live in the accomodation block funded by NLT nearby to the factory - its built around a courtyard, and i park my bike round the side entrance, greeted by a huge 'NAMASTE DIDI!!" by Makuram who is sitting by the window of their place.  I didnt understand for ages why he kept calling me 'didi' (big sister) as I was blatantly younger than his 60 or so years.. but I was told it is a mark of respect by him, so I had to make a joke with him about that...

OH and lastly, I am gutted that I never got a picture of Chimsi in her best outfit (which I am sad to say i have never seen since)  - brightly coloured sari wrapped around her waist, scruffy trainers, bandana (see the one she is sporting above) and a blue tshirt that just said 'David Beckham' on it. Amazing, you got to love her...

 

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Think I jinxed it, I got caught in the monsoon rain...

I think my last post must have jinxed me, because today i got caught on my cycle in the monsoon...not fun! The rain pelts at you and even my lovely knee-length mac doesn't seem to do much against it!

It reminded me of something I had said to an old work colleague about working in Nepal - I was trying to describe the difference I find between Nepal and the west... and the first thing that came into my head (I had just come back from a visit same time last year) was about what happens during monsoon rain.  Basically the roads go quiet, with most of the motorbike drivers getting off their bikes and waiting in shelter on the side of the road for the rain to stop. Can you imagine this happening in the UK? Everyone needs to get some where fast!

I remember noticing this when I was madly cycling to a meeting in the rain, determined to fit as many things into my day as possible. And it made me smile - in Nepal, most people are not in a rush, without any sense of urgency - why not stop for awhile and watch the rain, or have a chai?

So when this came back to me today, i stopped cycling and did as the Nepalese do, and had a tea break and watched the rain fall....

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New A/W2010 Collection now available for pre-order with 15% discount until the end of August!

The new AURA QUE A/W2010 collection is arriving by the end of August!!  Includes our signature leather and handknit handbags, versatile handknitted snoods and scarves, and unique small leather goods...

You can now pre-order all items for delivery by 25th August....Also it is your last chance to grab a sale bargain from our previous collections with sale leather bags from £35!

We are offering you 20% off ALL products in our Online Boutique until the end of August - including all sale and 'last chance to buy' items and pre-orders of our new A/W 2010 collection.

Just use the following discount code "SURYA20" at the online check out - also there is free postage and packing to all UK deliveries!

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Trying not to get caught in the Monsoon rain in Nepal!

So, its been a busy month, I haven't had chance to blog for awhile.....oops!

I arrived back in Kathmandu few days ago, overseeing my Autumn/Winter Production which is now coming along nicely.....more on that later...

Nepal is now in the monsoon season, its sunny, a little humid, with odd rain showers here and there.  I forgot how muddy the streets get, dodging the potholes of puddles while cycling to work!  A friend has lent me his mountain bike this time, as mine got stolen before, but I didnt realise that it didnt have any mud guards on, so on my first cycle to the factory, I had to be told about the huge mud splash all up my back, not the best time to wear a white vest...

Actually been having a bit of a bike nightmare, with endless punctures and crazy gears that I dont understand, so I am spending a lot of time sat outside random little bike repair shops on the side of the road, with a cup of chai, while the bike gets fixed! Still, it doesn't seem to be as rainy as the year before last when I was here during the monsoon - I have been doing quite well at avoiding cycling in the rain which is never fun...apart from my best monsoon memory when I had to cycle back from the knit manufacturers before it got dark (no bike lights), in a flourescent 80s rain mac I had to borrow (I was underprepared at the time!), only to get caught in the most ridiculous floods, where I was trying to cycle through gushing muddy rain water up to my knees. Then lost a flip flop and had to wade through to fish it out. Too funny! 

 

 

 

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Opening of the Fair Trade Cooperative in Holmfirth..

So I have been getting used to being back in the UK after my last trip to Nepal and India.  This is the first time I have been back in the UK for June for at least 5 years, and I have to say I am loving it!! The beautiful weather is making me appreciate the british countryside all around where I am based in Yorkshire - fantastic!

Anyway, when I first got back, I went to the opening of a new Co-operative project in Holmfirth - http://www.thefairtraderscooperative.co.uk/ - founded and invested in by the local community, the new shop sells a range of fair trade and ethical products and gifts.  As well as the shop, there is also a community room where customers can relax and learn more about how the Fair Traders Co-operative works. 

At the opening, I was introduced to the new local MP for Colne Valley, Jason McCartney, who took an interest in the AURA QUE leathergoods that are for sale at the new store...

Photo by Ciaran Bodenham

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SUMMER SALE - 20% DISCOUNT ON ALL AURA QUE STOCK until 30th June 2010

AURA QUE is offering you 20% off ALL products in our Online Boutique until the end of June - including all sale items and our Spring/Summer 2010 stock. Just use the following discount code "SURYA2010" at the check out - and remember we provide free postage and packing!

 

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I dont think that bright pink leather with zebra print is really my style?!

So I got to Delhi, had a couple of meetings, and got to catch up with Kirat, a good university friend from LCF Cordwainers College, before heading on the 14 hr round trip by train to visit the leather tannery I am working with.  I had to check my leather production before it was to be road freighted up to Kathmandu.  But I had to put this picture into the blog - of Faiz, the leather technician, who I was talking to while waiting for the leather pieces.  I asked him what his favourite leather was, and I am not sure if it was lost in translation, as he came running back holding up a bright pink hair-on cow leather with a black zebra print on top.   It was very funny, I was in shock! But I dont think this leather is suitable for the next AURA QUE collection...

With my train back booked for 7pm, to take 7 hrs back to Delhi, just in time for my flight back to London in the morning (yes, all abit hectic), the tannery director wanted to check if my train was running on time, and with a bit of a gasp, we found out it was running 5hrs late.....PANIC!  With Indian trains booking up like crazy in advance, my only option was to take the 8pm bus that got me into Delhi at 8am.  Just in time for breakfast and straight to the airport! Pooooped!

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Leaving Nepal - until next time...

So after a whirlwind three and a half week trip to Kathmandu, I have gone back to Delhi for several meetings, and to view my leather production.  With a severe shortage of time, due to all the delays at the beginning of my trip, I had to fly back to Delhi from Kathmandu, making sure that I got a window seat on the right side of the plane, to get the Himalayan views of the mountains peaking through the clouds - I love it!

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Nearly finished working on my Spring/Summer 2011 samples!

Whilst in Nepal this time, I have been working on my designs and collection for Spring/Summer 2011 to show to buyers over the next few months. I have been working with some of the sample makers at a leather workshop in South Kathmandu, set up by the Nepal Leprosy Trust.

For the summer collection, I have been working with buffalo leathers, allo nettle material with printed AURA QUE logo and jute braiding. I am really pleased with how hard all the producers worked with me, and pleased with the samples we made together!! Have put some pics of me and the lovely Bharat, Kumar, Shyam, Surya, Ram, and all the others who helped here and there...

So i think I am a bit of a giant here in Nepal...

Well I am 5 ft 10 inches, tall but not that tall in the UK - but in Nepal, I definately feel like a giant! I still remember my first time living in Nepal in 2003, when I was teaching English in a rural village, and how all the local families were laughing when they put me on one side of the metal scales (used for weighing bags of rice) and then two local girls (same age as me) on the other side - yep, I was the same weight as 2 Nepali girls!

Around the producers, I also seem to be huge in comparison - Nepalese are generally very small and slight people! So I thought I would take two pics of two women I work with. On the left, is Meera, the production director at Sana Hastakala - a force to be reckoned with!

The picture to the right is with Manju, who works at the Nepal Leprosy Trust - I still remember my total surprise when she stood up from her desk, first time I visited - all the the other producers find it hilarious if we walk to the local cafe at lunch together!!

Cycling around Kathmandu

Kathmandu is chaotic, there is no doubt about it. The mass sprawl, the crowds, the mental traffic of motorbikes, tuktuks, cars, rickshaws, and cows! Its not a huge city, but its pretty packed with people! With over 2000 years of cultural heritage, you catch glimpses of the buddhist stupas or hindu temples next to modern buildings and rickety huts.

I bicycle around the city as its quick to get around, and you can weave around the traffic and take the bumpy scenic back roads! Weirdly I am so comfortable cycling around Kathmandu, but have only tried it once in London - all those cycle lanes coming and going, with all drivers on autopilot, made me nervous! At least in Kathmandu, it is organised chaos - despite the traffic weaving around, moving everywhere, squeezing everywhere, they are all very aware of the road. You even get used to the customary horn 'beep' everytime a car passes any other moving object!

Its a lot of fun too; I have had plenty of random chats with taxi drivers or tuktuk passengers whilst at traffic lights, even lost a flipflop or two mid-cycle during monsoon. Its also a great way to learn about the city, find your way around - and sometimes you find the best places when you get lost!

Going for lunch with my producers

Ok so from this photo, i seem a little over excited about lunch with the producers at my leather factory - but you cant beat a lunch break for veg chowmein and good company!!

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Spring/Summer 2010 - Screenprinting AURA QUE Logo

For our Allo hemp products, the AURA QUE logo is screenprinted by hand onto each piece - see pictures below from the manufacturer that I visited this week, whilst developing new samples for our next collection!

Visit to Tannery in India

On my road trip from Delhi to Kathmandu, I visited the tannery that produces buffalo leather for AURA QUE's leather collection. I have visited many tanneries in various parts of India over the last few years, and am pleased to be working this well established tannery. They have a strong social responsibility policy and work to European regulations for Health & Safety and their treatment process, which I have seen first hand during my visits.

From Autumn/Winter 2010, AURA QUE will be working with leather made from high grade buffalo hides, that is a by-product of the local food industry. To create the colours and finish required, the tanning process uses some chemicals and waxes which are processed through the tannery's primary and secondary effluent treatment plants that extracts, contains and reuses any chemicals, and purifies water to be used for irrigation.

The tannery process the leather from raw hide to finished product. Once the raw leather hide has been processed, the leather is dyed in a large drum, dried, wax added, and then tumbled by a milling process to soften it.

I think its important to know how my materials are made, and having seen the whole tanning process from start to finish, its definately not for the faint hearted! But personally, I really think it is a necessary industry - realistically when is the world going to stop eating meat? Surely it is important to use all by-products to minimise waste?

Finally made it to Kathmandu

Once the strike was lifted, we were able to get transport to Kathmandu from the border of Nepal/India. An 8 hour bus journey, with incredible scenes of Nepal - through the farmlands of the southern Terai and the windy roads through the mountains, following the river to Kathmandu. Some of those bends were a bit hairy though...

And there is no limit to how many people can fit on a Nepali local bus...And we finally made it to KATHMANDU, despite volcano ash, food poisoning and a national political strike - phew!

Maoist Strike cripples transport links, causing Nepal to stand still for nearly a week

So we got to the Nepali/Indian border on Tuesday, filled with optimism that the strike that started last Sunday, would be over by then. But no; at the border, all shops were closed, all cafes, all buses stopped, with everyone just milling around with nothing to do.

With no one knowing when the strike would be over, we decided to head down to Varanasi, and see some sights at the River Ganges while trying to find out any information about the strike from the international news, local news and friends in Kathmandu. It has been surprising how little international news coverage the strike in Nepal has received - despite the country having stood still by Maoist protests for nearly a week.

Coming away from the Nepali border (so near but so far...!), I took a photo of all the trucks lined up waiting to take supplies into Nepal, waiting patiently on both sides of the road - miles and miles of them.

Now the strike has finally been called off, we will be retracing our steps over night, hoping to arrive in Kathmandu tomorrow - FINALLY!!