DATE: 19 December 2019
TIME: 2:00-5:00 PM (Nepali time)
WHERE: Ekadesma outlet, Thamel, Kathmandu; Thamel House Restaurant, Kathmandu
On 19th of December 2019, Kathmandu team with the support of SCOLAR Network organized a Deep Dive to Ekadesma, a sustainable lifestyle brand that is an emerging made in Nepal clothing line founded by two sisters Anuja Rajbhandari and Alpaza Rajbhandari.
The event started with the introduction of the company by co-founder Anuja Rajbhandari with an insight into how the practice of sustainability and ethical fashion is followed in Ekadesma and why the role of women empowerment is crucial for the development.
Since 2011, Ekadesma has been well-recognized both in the national and international markets, and how the company has got to this level is a story itself. They started small with their savings and the best thing was the good combination of their background. Anuza got a degree in Management, and Alpaza has done her degree from the Fashion Institute. Alpaza’s creative sketches and designs that reflect Nepal traditions and values with Anuza’s skills in management successfully took Ekadesma to new heights.
From the early stage, Ekadesma’s vision was to bring about change in the fashion industry in Nepal. With good research, they established value for their company on ‘what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, and how a community can benefit’. Following these principles, the company has been not only doing business but helping the community to uplift as well. Ekadesma has been conducting training programs and sessions helping people especially socially deprived women with job-related skills (sewing, candle making, weaving, etc), after which they find placement in the same company. Not limited to training, their activities also focus on post-earthquake projects like building schools, supplying stationery goods to school kids, etc.
It has been a trend where youth at an alarming rate are leaving the country seeking better opportunities. Trying to make an impact to break the trend, two sisters share objectives to inspire and train people with job-related skills and change their mindset to create opportunities in their home country. Ekadesma has been getting lots of attention for these efforts among young entrepreneurs who want to build a business platform in Nepal. Their work reflects how caring and contributing they are towards society.
Participants were very enthusiastic to learn from Anuja Rajbhandari as she explained about the struggle, hard work, dedication in the opening of “Made in Nepal” brand business while competing for becoming an international brand. The most important knowledge that all took from the speaker was that Sustainable Development only takes place if we are willing to share and provide an opportunity with critical ingredients of humanity, kindness, and benevolence.
After the session, all attendees visited both the outlets in Thamel and had a tea session with Q&A. Finally, the Kathmandu team would like to show gratitude to Thamel House Restaurant for providing a vibrant ambiance and invite everyone to take part in the next events in Kathmandu!