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!!