Peljor Knits
Peljor Knits
Peljor Knits Story
Led by local artisans, the group empowers women and students by providing flexible, fair-wage work that supports their families and higher education. Their handcrafted collection features vibrant accessories made using traditional Nepalese knitting techniques
Featured Artisan Stories
Paru Sherpa
Women in Nepal often have no control over their families’ finances and most are encouraged not to work outside the home. Paru Sherpa learned the importance of economic independence from her mother-in-law who lost her husband in a tragic trekking accident and had 3 small children to raise. Luckily Paru’s mother-in-law had created her own small knitting business and when her husband died that income because vitally important to her family’s welfare. Motivated by her mother-in-law’s example, Paru Sherpa decided to start her own knitting business using beautiful recycled sari yarn to make scarves and hats. Her business quickly grew, and now Paru Sherpa and her sister-in-law work together with 50 other women who knit beautiful wool items. Like Paru Sherpa, these women are working towards creating financial stability for themselves and their families despite the cultural and economic barriers they face as women living in Nepal. Ganesh Himal Trading works closely with Paru’s business to help them expand their product line and create more work opportunities for Nepali women.
Chunta Nepali
At the center of Ganesh Himal Trading’s operations in Nepal is Chunta Nepali. Younger sister to Pemala Lama and dear friend of owners Denise and Ric, Chunta has taken it upon herself to involve numerous family-run groups in the Ganesh Himal family so that they too can benefit from the economic stability of Fair Trade. In her own words:
“Your continuous work has made the workers able to plan their future better and has been able to involve more women to work who otherwise would be sitting home…We all think Ganesh Himal has been a true fair trade importer bringing changes for the better in so many peoples lives through new product ideas, patience in dealing with all our problems and ever empathizing manner. I always feel so grateful to be working with you.”
“For me, your continuous work and job has made my life so stable and I have been able to support my son’s education, and have a good life. Above all this job has given me a lot of learning experience getting to know so many people from different walks of life and really appreciating what I have and also being able to help other people or each other by sharing our experiences and way of doing things not only about work but our personal lives too.”
