Check out our online boutique at http://shop.auraque.com for some handbag and accessories bargains!!
Only until 31st Jan 2011....have a look!
Enter the discount code SURYA20 at the online checkout for 20% off your order.
Free UK delivery and free international delivery for orders over £100.
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Wishing you all a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2011!!!
I have a feeling its going to be a great year for us all!!
At AURA QUE, we are offering 20% discount off ALL stock in our online boutique - please use discount code 'JAN2011' at the check out! Remember we give free UK delivery, as well as for international orders over £100.
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This year 2010 has been full of disastrous travel, whether it be volcanic ash clouds, indian visa immigration officials, sickness or national political travel strikes by Nepali maoists.....well the latest, is the snow at Heathrow, to finish off the year completely. After a two month trip to Nepal, I was stuck in Delhi for several days due to my Kingfisher plane being stuck in Brussels because they had 'run out of de-icer'. Classic!!
So after being told I could only fly back to the UK on Boxing Day and with my only 'Christmassy' encounter in the December run-up, being with a half sized felt Santa at a Christmas Bazaar in Kathmandu, I thought Christmas was going to be cancelled for me this year....
Luckily, I got bundled onto a flight with another airline on 22nd and made it home in time for the festivities, for a well needed catch up with my family and friends. Its great going to Nepal for Nov/Dec as you dont have any of the commercial Christmas stuff wearing you down, and you get back (luckily!) for the celebrations to spend time with everyone you love - Happy Christmas to all!!!
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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 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 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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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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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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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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[[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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