Making our AURA QUE summer lightweight Bamboo Cotton Jersey Scarves

The AURA QUE jersey bamboo cotton scarves are perfect for summer - really light weight and soft! Available in plain neutral colours as well as various striped options.

These scarves are made on knitting machines in Kathmandu.  The yarn is very fine - 70% Bamboo and 30% Cotton, and knitted on a very fine count to get the summery light feel.  The knitters have to be very careful whilst knitting as the yarn is so delicate until woven up.

For our striped scarf versions, the making process is extensive, as the yarn has to be knitted up in the raw cream colour, then dyed, then unwound and RE-knitted into the striped versions! So there is definately a lot of work in them!

At the small factory where these scarves are made, they produce a lot of knitted cashmere products for overseas design houses, all for export.  Each machine is used by a trained Nepalese worker to make sure the hand-operated machines knit evenly and without faults.

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Ethika boutique in Norwich stocking AURA QUE products this summer!

This season, AURA QUE products can be found at ETHIKA in Norwich, who have opened a new store location in the town centre recently, stocking lots of great ethical products and gifts!

Please check out their facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/ethikaemporium

Open between 10am-5pm from Tues to Sat at 12 Pottergate, Norwich.

 

Posted via email from AURA QUE

365 steps up to Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, overlooking Kathmandu

Swayambhunath is a Buddhist religious site on top of a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, which is also called the 'Monkey Temple' because of all the monkeys that live around the north west parts of the temple - becareful of them, they can be vicious at times!!

I know this is a blog for AURA QUE and the producers I work with but Kathmandu is such an interesting and fascinating place to work in, I thought I would blog about some of the fine sights in Nepal, that I have visited many times with friends, visitors or just in passing on the way to work!

Anyone who visits Kathmandu, will see this temple on the hill and should make a visit up all the stairs to take in the religious atmosphere, marvel at the beautiful details and colours, and the views over Kathmandu.  For the Nepalese people, this is where they will make daily offerings, as well as celebrate the most popular festivals at Swayambhunath, which are Lhosar, (Tibetan New Year), Buddha Jayanti, (Buddha’s Birthday) and Gunla, (the sacred month of Lord Buddha).

The complex can be accessed by road at one side or a long staircase of 365 steps leaving up to the main large stupa that overlooks the whole of Kathmandu.  The main stupa has the buddha eyes painted on them, which is an iconic image from Nepal.  Within the complex there is also shops, restaurants, shrines to different Gods, a peace pagoda and a Tibetan Monastery.

The steps are pretty steep up to the main stupa but the sight is amazing at the top - the beautiful large stupa with colourful prayer flags, that is uplighted at night and you can see from miles around on the hill.  You can also see the massive sprawl of Kathmandu as far as the eye can see!! A little bit different from 50 years ago (see the black and white picture I found of Swayambhu in the 1960s!).

Last time I went up to the stupa, the monks were chanting in the Tibetan monastery, so we went inside to have a look - the rooms inside were incredibly beautiful and colourful with lots of intricate painting and decoration details, really fascinating. It felt like a really spiritual place.

The massive Buddhist statues at the South road entrance to Swayambhu are really epic and can be seen from the main road.  These were built in the last ten years by different Buddhist communities, and very beautifully decorated once you look up close.

 

 

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Chimsi retires from work at NLT office after over 25 years.

Chimsi has worked at NLT for a very long time - as she lives in the accomodation provided in the compound next to NLT, she has worked as a cleaner, tea lady and caretaker for the building over the years.  Many a time I have needed to come in early to the factory or deliver some materials on a day off or after hours, she has always been there to bundle me the keys and follow me into the building!

I have blogged about Chimsi before, she is one of many colourful characters at the Nepal Leprosy Trust office and handicraft unit in Kathmandu.  Always curious to see what I am doing, she would sit nearby observing my work, making gruff comments about what I would be wearing or doing, that would make the others laugh, and telling me to eat or drink something, trying to look out for me!

She came to NLT with leprosy at a young age, having cured her from the disease, she was still outcast by her community as sadly can be the way, and moved to NLT compound to live and work.  She met Makuram, who also had leprosy previously and married each other later in life.  Makuram was a prominent and skilled worker at the leather factory for many years which was before my time since he has been retired for many years now.

With recent health problems and small operations, Chimsi has now retired from regular work at NLT as she is in her early 60s. Though I still have see her around the compound and get invited to have a cup of tea with Chimsi and Makuram sometimes, who are now looked after by Chimsi's grand daughter Rita.

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Kathmandu blooming in Spring!

I get asked a lot why I love Kathmandu as a city, as most people travelling through can't wait to get out of the chaos and mess and up into the mountains and rural areas.  Though I love visiting outside of the valley, Kathmandu has a lot of charm amongst the hussle and bustle.

Especially during spring, there are some beautiful snippets of colour with some beautiful blossom and flowers in the city!!

Garden of Dreams is a renovated Rana palace that is a private peaceful garden to slip away from the traffic and noise, to have a coffee and read a book in the tranquil and beautiful gardens! (see two pics above).  Definately worth a visit for any frustrated and frazzled tourist passing through the city!! As well as a bit of respite for locals and expats also!!

http://www.gardenofdreams.org.np/

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Supporting Emmanuel Beads who provides employment for women through bead training projects in Kathmandu

There are many great bead projects around Kathmandu, and this time I visited Emmanuel Beads who work with women to make beaded necklaces and bracelets etc.  They provide training and also a meeting place for the women to make the pieces at their premises in South Kathmandu.  Originally the project was set up between two English women living in the city and now the ownership has been passed on to Reshma and her mum who coordinate all the women, and they are supported by a network of English ex pats and visitors to buy their products and keep them running. 

On my visit, I chose some simple beaded strand necklaces in various colours, that look fantastic when worn - with matching bracelets.  Please see listing on our online boutique for RESHMA necklace and bracelet set:

http://shop.auraque.com/product/reshma-bead-necklace-bracelet-set

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Weaving AURA QUE Jacquard fabrics on wooden looms for our Summer bag range

AURA QUE has developed a range of jacquard fabrics with our producer in South Kathmandu.  The original Geometric Stripe version has been so popular in our Jogi Bag range, that we have developed this design and the new Aztec pattern, into coloured versions in Purple/Green, Yellow/Pink/Purple and Red/Mustard/Purple for the late summer season.

The jacquard is made on the mechanical wooden loom, controlled by punched cards with holes in specific places that correspond to rows in the fabric design.  This makes up the Geometric Stripe and Aztec fabric designs.  Different colours are introduced to ge tthe colourful patterns, or the black and white version.

It takes one person a full day to make many metres, as the shuttle is fed by hand through the fabric to produce the cloth. So our current AURA QUE order is being made at the moment by hand, employing 4 workers on the machines. It is energetic work, and the clacking noise is loud and rhythmic when you are next to the machines.

Above: Fabric and colour design development.

Above: Spining the yarn onto the bobbins to be threaded onto the looms.

We will have 6 colourways available over the summer for both our Jogi Bag range and our leather/jacquard bag range for more playful and colourful range by AURA QUE!!

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Behind the scenes - keeping it simple with our AURA QUE Photoshoot in Nepal.

Before I left Nepal this time, I arranged a small photoshoot in Kathmandu for all our current AURA QUE products.

Working with a young local model and up and coming photographer, who works for a local fashion magazine Navyaata, we kept it simple, working on a terrace rooftop using natural light, and simple clothing to emphasise the bags photographed!

 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150900042747022.443386.28478580702...

Things do not happen as efficiently as it could do in the UK, with a two hour wait for the photographer, change of venue for better lighting and an entourage of family members and friends to add to the distraction and frustration but we got it all done and I am really happy with the results!!

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Behind the scenes - keeping it simple with our AURA QUE Photoshoot in Nepal.

Before I left Nepal this time, I arranged a small photoshoot in Kathmandu for all our current AURA QUE products.

Working with a young local model and up and coming photographer, who works for a local fashion magazine Navyaata, we kept it simple, working on a terrace rooftop using natural light, and simple clothing to emphasise the bags photographed!

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150900042747022.443386.28478580702...

[[posterous-content:pid___1]]

Things do not happen as efficiently as it could do in the UK, with a two hour wait for the photographer, change of venue for better lighting and an entourage of family members and friends to add to the distraction and frustration but we got it all done and I am really happy with the results!!

[[posterous-content:pid___3]][[posterous-content:pid___4]][[posterous-content:pid___5]][[posterous-content:pid___6]]

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Despite wishing for less rain in UK, the Nepalese pull a 30ft tall chariot through Patan, honouring the Rain God and praying for epic monsoon rain!!

Whilst I was in Nepal last month, there was the festival for the Rain God in Patan - where a 30 foot tall chariot is constructed and then processed through the streets in the old town.  It is pulled along by rope by many people, which seems quite a hard task!

I have seen this chariot at various times during my visits to Nepal, and thought it looked like a giant christmas tree!  Once I even got stuck on my cycle with the procession coming towards me, with crowds of people and the massive chariot which I got stuck amongst and eventually managed to find a side road to escape the hoards of people!

Actually it celebrates: "....the happiness of heavy shower at a time when famine took place in Kantipur, according to a legend......

....Rato Machchhindranath is considered both a Hindu and Buddhist god, who by legend was brought from Assam (India) during the reign of Lichchavi King Narendra Dev, by a farmer to Lalitpur valley in Nepal to prevent a drought during the rice season.................The longest running chariot festival in Nepal recreates this event in hope for good rain. It begins with the construction of the chariot in Pulchowk, Lalitpur and ends with the Bhoto Jatra festival in Jawalakhel....... It is celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus of Newar community. It is celebrated by pulling the chariot to different places in the town of Patan."

So the festival happens annually in April/May before the monsoon arrives in Kathmandu, which is necessary in the rural areas for farming, but also for the hydro power sources, which currently means a little bit more electricity, and less load shedding around the valley (fingers crossed!) - as usually power shortage is reduced from up to 12 hrs a day to sometimes around 6 hours without power. Well, every little helps!

Read more: http://www.yalamandu.com/2012/04/bundyo-rato-matsyendranath-jaatra.html#ixzz1va4IYyXq

Posted via email from AURA QUE