I left the corporate world to spend 1999 in Nepal as a volunteer business advisor on an Asian Development Bank micro-credit project for poor women. When I was there, I was moved to do something about the plight of traditional Nepali pashmina weavers, many of whom were oppressed and bullied by foreign merchants and joint venture businesses.
Since 2000, AA Pashmina has been developing unusual, genuine, fine and sophisticated pashminas (the original name for ‘cashmere’). We employ skilled craftspeople using handlooms and Swiss dyes that do not cause skin cancer, are eco-friendly and colour-fast. Sustaining local enterprises and skills, and generating income for families and the local community are on equal priority with producing our quality pashminas. It did not begin as a business but grew from my heart and a great passion to be with them, and grow along with them.
Today, some of our beautiful creations are available at places like COMO Hotels, Club 21, and exclusive boutiques and hotels in Singapore and elsewhere. I also sell direct from my home in Singapore when I’m in town. As I’m a hands-on person, from design to logistics, I have to be there during the production, and hence it may be a little hard to catch me. Occasionally, we join certain hotel fairs in Singapore.
Many clients are regulars who bring their relatives and friends. We hardly advertise. We have been featured on television here and USA, The Business Times, The Straits Times, and other magazines. We are small and will probably stay this way. |
