Fashion Industry In Nepal

Evolution of Fashion
The fashion industry worldwide is one of the most glamorous, having its reach from New York to London to Paris and Tokyo. All over the globe the latest trends travel so fast that designers are busy making forecasts for each and every season and occasion they can think of. The economic potential is so huge that designers and apparel houses worldwide are trying to streamline their operations to reach the maximum consumers with the latest products at the best possible prices. But of course, to satisfy everyone’s tastes is just not possible. In order to reach the right audience, apparel houses have created different brands for different segments. Brands like GAP, Tommy Hilfeger, DKNY, Calvin Klein and Levis have been associated with the youth and hence usually offer casualwear. Others like Chanel, Gucci, Armani are for the elite and upper classes thus positioning themselves accordingly. Apart from the international brands, there are also regional brands like Mango in Spain, Ikea in Hong Kong, Miu Miu in Japan. Even in India there are major players like Weekender, Tamarind, Peter England, Pantaloons and a host of others.
Hence the development towards a brand seems to be coming out quite strong. It’s not just related with the product but with the lifestyle of a particular group or segment of society The consumer can usually associate themselves within a certain group or identity. Take for instance; someone who wears GAP is usually a teenager and young adult who hold a very rebellious outlook to life. This particular group dress and behave in a more or less similar fashion and their tastes in clothing are met by the brand - GAP. That way, manufacturers too have their share of benefits. They can communicate their message very strongly to the target customer and they can stand by their commitment whether it is of design, quality or price. They can also develop a loyal group who usually preach the message and create more followers.
In Nepal the concept of brands is still in its infancy especially in relation to clothing. What can be said of the Nepalese youths is that they are a fashionable lot and blend into the latest trends very quickly. However, they are more conscious with the style of the product but never bother whether it is genuine or an imitation. Another factor consumers here are keener on is whether the product is imported or made locally. They are willing to pay the extra rupee as long as it is imported, without keeping in mind the quality. If it is made in Nepal then it has to be done so in a boutique where prices are exorbitant.
Keeping in view the whims of the Nepali fashion-conscious many upcoming boutiques has in store with a range of products to meet the requirements of the Nepalese market. Generally targeting the young brigade the items are produced after extensive research in terms of size, design, season and price of the local people. The prices of shirts and tops available in boutiques range between Rs 300.00 and 450.00 while pants vary from Rs 475.00 to Rs 675.00. Compared to the market, the prices are very reasonable and this is because, most of the benefits of the cost cutting are passed on to the consumers.
State of Nepal’s Fashion Industry
Nepal's fashion world witnesses quite a number of entrants every year. Enthusiastic, eager and earnest faces gracing the field with their eyes on just one thing, the ramp. But how much can the fashion and modeling industry actually offer? Fashion shows here and there, perhaps a few advertisements, maybe none? Those who have luck on their side may go on to make their mark in the fashion industry, or maybe head on to the other glamour world in Nepal - films.
The fashion and modeling scene in Nepal has a dismal snail pace growth. The chances of models sustaining themselves in this field are very slim. The most common path before a model leads to choreography, training or fashion designing. With due credit to the few who have been able to gain a firm career foothold from glamour, questions still arise: Does just a few fashion shows groom one into a choreographer, a trainer or a designer? With the reins of the Nepali glamour industry resting in the hands of semi-trained people at best, what does the future hold?


It was 1996 when Kala Subba first entered the modeling world. She remembers the doubt and confusion she felt on whether she would make it or not, how long she would be able to last and if she would be appreciated or not. In the six years that followed, Kala has come a long way. Today she is an established model, a radio presenter on Hits FM 91.2, a presenter on Channel Nepal and a choreographer as well. Besides all that, she also is a partner at the Ramp, a modeling institute in Kathmandu. She can recall when modeling as a career was very disreputable and conservative. Kala believes that today attitudes are somewhat more liberal and the public has come to appreciate it more. Being merely beautiful is not enough for her. She strongly emphasizes drive, ambition and the capability of carrying oneself well.
Can glamour be turned into a money spinner in Nepal? Kala thinks now more than before there is a distinct possibility for this. She believes you can take the glamour industry as a profession, provided you have the experience and know your work properly. Interestingly, Kala trains models at the Ramp, the same place she started out as a trainee six years ago.
"I haven't taken any formal training as such for choreography. Whatever I know about choreography is a result of my seniors, from whom I've learnt a lot. You do, however, need the experience to step into choreography. It's not an easy job. You have to see to everything, from the lights to the catwalk to the sequence of the show. It's more like directing a movie. When I started out choreographing, I was a bit apprehensive. But now, I've realized the hard work attached with it and have tried to give my best always."



Suresh Manandhar is another well-known name in the Nepali fashion industry. His career dates back to 1994, when he started out ramp modeling as a hobby. He joined the Ramp in 1998 and has been working there since as a fashion instructor. He also assists on more technical skills like posing for the camera, style and eye contact. The fashion industry here in Nepal comes to him as a rather grim picture, though he foresees some improvements in the next 10 years or so.
"It's not great but it has good prospects. We cannot compare it with international standards, but it is heading in the right direction." The benefits as he says are low and he advises models to think twice before making it a full-time profession. How does a model qualify as a choreographer, when in reality, all they have to their credit is mere ramp experience?


Nepal's first export to the Miss World pageant, Jharana Bajracharya, has stepped into movies. Monima Khadka, a very well known name in modeling, is hardly seen these days. Prashant Tamrakar, another successful model of his time, now works as a choreographer. Kala Subba is a radio presenter, a TV host and a choreographer while Suresh Manadhar has also set firm footing in choreography. They themselves say that the fashion world of Nepal is not yet advanced to make a full time career out of it. Maybe lack of full-time professionals could account for that.
The Nepali fashion industry needs more than a spark of ignition to steer it properly. The benefits are low, the resources are non-existent and there is hardly any sustainability. Though the concerned people say that the glamour world in Nepal is growing, it will take a long time before Nepal's fashion world can really achieve standards worthy of pride



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Show Organizers
This list is not in any order.
ID
Name
Contact
Location
Tel
Email
Web

1 House of Rajkarnicar - Patan 543018 Send

2 Everest Exhibition - Baluwater 423363 Send

3 Global Exposition - Thapathali 260232 Send

4 Little Media - Lalitpur 527373
5 Vogue Ad and Event - Jhamsikhel 526686 Send










Fashion Boutiques
Directory / Contact Listings
This list is not in any order.
ID
Name
Contact
Location
Tel
Email
Web

1 Rage Fashions Mona Sharma and Shrijana Yongon Durbarmarg 267645 Email
View

2 Seasonal Boutique Mangal Bazar 521740
3 Dark Horse Thamel 350819
4 Meher Collection Yagendra Bajracharya Kupondole 547323 Email

5 Invogue Boutique Vandana Bharati and Prashanna Bharati Kupondole 543728
6 Shama Fashion Bag Bazar 217213
7 Swoniga Designs Lal Durbar 224951
8 Tara Boutique Thamel 418198
9 Kadambani Fashion 471591
10 Creative Fashion House Kupondole 523849
11 La Parell Kupondole 520423
12 Fashion Den Lazimpat 421826
13 Mitra Fashion Putalisadak 223031
14 Everest Centre Thamel 225388
15 Elegance Boutique Teku 223532
16 Dzambala Boutique Kupondole 528818
17 Didis Boutique Thamel 215267 Send

19 Ladies' Choice Boutique Jawalakhel 525254
20 Ves Vusa New Road 213047
21 Seasonal Boutique Mangal Bazar 521740
22 The Bluebells Fashion Wearhouse Khichapokhari 217501
23 Noor Jahan Libas Kathmandu 417352







Pashmina Industry in Nepal

Pashmina
• Pashmina: Pashmina is a fine trendiest fashion fabric of this modern era. Pashmina wool is also known for the softest, most luxurious and the best pashm wool in the world.
• Pashmina: Pashmina is considered as diamond among fibers.
• Pashmina: Pashmina is the Cashmere wool of the highest grade. Pashmina is probably made from the finest wool in the world.
• Pashmina: Pashmina is a fine trendiest fashion fabric of this modern era.
• Pashmina: Pashmina wool is also known for the softest, most luxurious and the best pashm wool in the world.
• Pashmina: Pashmina is the name given to the wool shorn from the underbelly of goats indigenous to remote and frigid Himalayan regions of Nepal, Tibet and Central Asia
• Pashmina: Pashmina is considered as the royal luxury and is being offered in wide variety of pashmina shawls, pashmina stoles, pashmina, mufflers, pashmina scarves, pashmina sweaters, pashmina blankets and other pashmina products.
About Fashion Boutiques in Nepal
• Current Situation
• Human Resource
• Stitching Methods

Current Situation
The situation is at the worst level and the excuses are (a) lack of awareness. (b) people consider `Fashion' as designing western clothes (c) lack of media exposure and marketing resources and (d) Newcomers in the field without sheer determination.
An average Nepali won't go to Fashion boutiques because he/she believes that boutiques are expensive and that it is for one with a car. Cheap tailoring centers attracting thousands of customers are happy enough. Boutiques could start by educating the general public that you can provide rates for the quality given by the tailoring centers. Boutiques are solely to be blamed for doing nothing.
All boutiques in Kathmandu and also in other regions in Nepal, need to create a program to educate the general public that fashion itself is a science and Nepalese fashion designers spending most of their time designing Nepali fashion wears should be given a priority.
Human Resource:
Most Nepalese designers have a 2 year diploma from Indian fashion institutes. The others are those from crash courses taken in fashion institutes in Kathmandu and the others participating directly in the field to acquire knowledge through experience. In the technical line, Nepalese as well as Indian nationals constitute a major portion of the labor force. Damai, a group of people falling to this cast system of Nepal, constitute a large number of labor force in the fashion field. Damai have an outstanding tailoring skills pass on from generation to generation; most run a family tailoring business at home or in rented apartments.
Human force in boutiques comprises of 1 to 2 fashion designers (immediate proprietors), 1 tailor master per boutique, 2 men for tailoring, 1 women for threading, and 1 assistant (usually women) for the boutique and workshop. Some have additional (woman or man) force for marketing as well. The owners (Fashion designers) undertakes all functions including administration, marketing, sales and fashion designing. Fashion boutique is also a family business. Father, Father-in-law, Mother, Mother-in-law, Husband, Wife all contribute their share of time and ideas in fashion design, management and marketing.
Boutique owners tend to agree that they provide more employment opportunities than the shopping centers and hence should be given higher priority by everyday people not only because of the quality and a reasonable price, but because everyone's money really goes to those who work. Boutiques embrace two clearly distinguished opportunities. (a) In technical line for tailor maters and tailor workers (b) in technical, administration and marketing for Fashion designers mainly the boutique owners (c) seemingly integrating with other associates and organizations in the fashion industry such as fashion show organizers, and accommodation and facility providers which too constitutes to employment opportunities. It also empowers women; about 90% of fashion designers in Nepal are women. The profit for every 500 rupees stitching is as low as 50 rupees and that average boutiques must earn at least Rs 1700 to Rs 2000 per month to meet the cost (a) Salary (b) Rents (c) Water/Electricity and other expenses.
Stitching Methods:
In the past, most boutiques could not afford their own workshop, many worked with others for tailoring needs. Having a workshop meant more independent and full control over the outputs. Today, all boutiques have their own tailoring workshop consisting of hand and electrical driven machineries and skilled labor force.
Nepalese customers do not really care about the number of stitches per inch method. Hand-driven and electrical machineries are used for tailoring. Buttons, Lining and Hemming are all done by women's hand.
Internet and Boutiques
Only a few have websites but others are catching up pretty fast.

State of fashion designers in Nepal
Talking about fashion designers in Nepal, the only opportunity they get to exhibit their creativity is during the annual Fashion Week, which is organized by IEC (India Education Center) Nepal, a fashion school at Bag Bazaar, Kathmandu.
Some other fashion institutes of Kathmandu, such as the Namuna College of Fashion Technology, Lakhotia Institute of Fashion Designing, and Lord Buddha Education Foundation also host annual fashion shows but on relatively smaller scales.
The IIFT Fashion Institute of Delhi was another house that hosted major fashion events in town till two years ago. It recently shut its branch office in Kathmandu. And despite these half a dozen fashion schools running various diploma courses and even Bachelor-level studies in fashion and technology, sadly, none of our own designers have been able to come up with their labels. Forget being recognized internationally, almost all designers work unheard of even in the cosmopolitan capital city of Kathmandu.
As such, the scene in the Nepali fashion industry is quite bleak; but surprisingly, the number of fashion boutiques is growing in Kathmandu and in other cities like Dharan, Pokhara, Butwal, and Biratnagar, too.
NEPALI HANDI CRAFT
Nepali handicraft goods saw an export hike of 17 percent in the first nine months of ongoing fiscal year. Weakening of Nepali currency is the reason behind this growth, noted exporters.
Nepali handicraft goods worth Rs. 2.22 billion have been exported to around 80 different countries between mid-July 2008 and mid-April 2009. These exports stood at Rs. 1.89 billion in the corresponding period last year, revealed the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN).
However, in terms of US currency, the exports of handicraft products from Nepal in the nine months of this fiscal had fallen by 0.3 percent to US$29.51 million. During the first nine months of the current fiscal, dollar was valued between Rs. 68.85 and Rs. 80.15, whereas in the same period of last fiscal year it averaged between Rs. 64.45 and Rs. 65.44.
But the increase in US dollars against the Nepali currency doesn’t provide a blanket explanation for the increment recorded by certain export items. In these nine months, exports of woolen products also went up by 27 percent to Rs.336.95 million. These exports make up 15 percent of the total handicraft exports. Exports of other textile items such as felt, cotton, hemp and Dhaka products also witnessed an increase, in terms of both, Nepali as well as US currency.
While the export of non-textile items such as exports of silver jewelry, which amounted to 12 percent of total handicraft exports, also experienced a marginal growth of 8 percent and touched Rs. 265.05 million. But this figure fell down by nine percent in US dollar terms.
As summing up the document, Nepal’s fashion industry is in rise. Many of the Nepalese are indulged in fashion industry which has to some extent helped in standarzing the life style of the people who not even own the industry, but also are the consumers of the products. The earning rate of the industry is as equal as any reputed job in the society. But still few reasons are there people don’t want to adapt it as the dependable profession. Nepal lacks professionalism and enough marketing skills. Nepal’s geographical structure has also to some extent being hindering the industry. Many people don’t even know about the fashion profession and trends, and half of amongst who knows it dosen't take it as easily as the others do. There is certain group of people criticizing fashion and industry because they think women are being exposed and used as the source of entertainment in the fashion industry. As an example we can observe the protest against Miss Nepal pageant and ultimately Miss Nepal 2008 being cancelled. The feminists and human right activists are the major groups indulged in protests. But looking at the brighter side of the story, there are women and men being benefited too. Many men and women develop creativity confidence through fashion, beauty pageants and designing of clothes. So as a whole Nepal’s fashion industry despite of many hurdles is in success’s height, as we can see Nepal’s fashion being internationally recognized.

Reference
http://www.nfashion.netfrms.com
http://www.Neplaseclothing.com,
http://www.cybersansar.com
http://www.fiber2fashion.com
http://www.google.com
http://www.wikipedia.com

Women sexual harassment

‘’To my beloved one”, this phrase is seen in most of the notes or greeting cards given by a guy to a girl. ‘Beloved’, the one who receives love, and not the one who gives love shows the passiveness of girls. From the very beginning of the history of mankind, women are always put behind, under the shadow of a man; sometimes in the name of biology and sometimes sociology. Women are from many ways being used and abused, one of whose best and frequently occurring example is women sexual harassment. Unwelcome sexual advantages, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature constitute sexual harassment. When this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual, unreasonably interferers with an individual’s work performance, mental peace or creates an intimidating hostile or offensive work environment. Sexual harassment can also be any unwanted comment, gesture, unwanted attention, demands or a pattern of joke or insults that affects your job, work or school environment.

As 48.4% of the women face various degrees of sexual harassment it is one of the major problems of today’s time, the solutions must be discussed and implemented. There are few laws in Nepal against women sexual harassment, but none of those are working out seriously or we can say practically. The laws and rules against women sexual violence should be made strict and should be implemented rather than just making a law book. The issue is one of the major problems of our society which has feared women even to trust their own father. The laws made on the issue are not practically used that is why we can observe day by day an incident of women sexual harassment and the guilty not being punished according the crime. Due to the lack of a stringent law to penalise the guilty, cases of violence are increasing and impunity is on the rise. Patriarchal social system, lack of awareness, men’s control over financial matters, lack of employment and training and absence of women at the policy level are some of the factors that have caused a spurt in cases of domestic violence against women. Efforts were made in the past to introduce law on domestic, to no avail. Following pressure from NGOs and civil society, the then government registered Bill on Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) in the Parliament on February 22, 2002. However, with the Upper House dissolved on May 22, 2002, the effort got a blow. The existing legal provisions do not recognize using any verbal or similar abuses against women as a crime. Public prosecutors register cases of harassment only when a woman is physically assaulted, from which we can see that our own law is encouraging the crime and criminals. Because of the ignorance toward the laws from the government, the crime is in rise. The absence of a specific law dealing with sexual harassment adversely affects women's physical and economic well being, thereby limiting their economic productivity and social development.

The issue of sexual harassment was a taboo until recently, but it is gaining recognition. From being limited to a social issue it is becoming a broader legal and human rights issue. Building awareness on women, their families, and communities is a way to create an environment where gender-based violence is not tolerated. The following measures can be adopted in order to curb the evil to some extent:

1. Changing people's attitude and mentality towards women will take a long time, at least a generation and perhaps longer. Raising awareness of the issue of violence against women, and educating boys and men to view women as valuable partners in life, in the development of a society and in the attainment of peace are just as important as taking legal steps to protect women's human rights. Thus there must be government policy regarding compulsory teaching in schools about the importance of women in society.

2. The Government of Nepal should draft and pass the bill on sexual violence against women with broader sense and definitions.

3. The case of sexual violence should be filed by women police only and there should not be any delay on response.

4. Appointment of female Domestic violence prevention officers in every district.

5. To curb the social evil like rape, the government of Nepal should draft a bill regarding the biggest punishment for rape.

6. Since punishment is not only the solution to control this social evil, hence public awareness is more important. It is recommended that government should organize the programs of public awareness regarding the sexual violence against women.

7. The effectiveness of NGO and INGO is well known in public sector, it is recommended that government must encourage the involvement of such organizations for effective implementation and observation of such violence in the society.

8. The only method to know the situation of sexual violence against women is through research. Once the problem is known, then only we can think of remedies. Therefore research work must be done by government through research institutes to know the exact condition of violence.

The ultimate thing to be done in order to control the crime is encouraging women to come up with the problem and not fear. Social scientists state that almost all girls as they grow into womanhood are taught fear. Fear is the form in which the female internalizes both chivalry and the double standard. Her fear results in a passive rather than active response to male aggression. She may become paralyzed with fear, restrict her behavior (i.e., not to go out alone, not to do anything without her partner’s permission), try to appease her attacker, and worry about how she can prevent a future attack. The passive women are taught to regard themselves as helpless, unable to act, unable even to perceive, in no way self –sufficient. In order to confront violence in our patriarchal society, women must use their own strength as an energy source for reform. In all societies, to a greater or lesser degree, women are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture. Violence against women is proving to be an effective weapon in the hands of man through which they can exploit women and establish their supremacy.

In conclusion, violence eradication is not a simple and one day work. So, joint efforts are needed. A grass root effort at awareness generation is of utmost importance to nip the problem at the bud. Mass media- both audio-visual and print materials are playing very crucial role to keep the public informed about the enormity and proportion of this shameful and dehumanizing problem. Government of Nepal has identified gender equality and women’s empowerment as major policy, has also encouraged the government to get rid of all forms of bias against women and to work in close teamwork with civil societies. Abusive demands for sexual favors and targeted verbal harassment should be addressed at all levels -- legal, educational and in personnel offices. Research shows that sexual harassment is most likely where women are few in number. Where women make up a good portion of the work force (including at high-level positions), sexual harassment decreases. The most potent remedy to sexual harassment is to increase the number of women in the work-place -- a real advance for women rather than the window dressing that image-banning provides. Finally, a focus on sexual material diverts attention from the underlying causes of harassment. Gender-based harassment (whether it uses sexual or nonsexual language) is typically a power play by men who feel threatened by women's progress toward equality or even by their presence. It is the deeply-rooted social causes of such hostility that policy makers need to address.

References

Dr. Upadhaya, Nirajan. (2001, December 22). “A psychological outlook on Domestic violence on women”. The Rising Nepal, Kathmandu.

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, (2008, February 29)” Israel: Protection available to female victims of sexual harassment in the workplace, including legal mechanisms; whether there are any reports of police refusing to process complaints of sexual harassment from immigrant women who are from the former Soviet Union”.

www.savefamily.org

www.us.oneworld.net

www.womensweb.com

www.legalserviceindia.com

www.womensphere.wordpress.com

Chepange, bd. Bore. (2005, April 9). “Nari ko Katha”. Nari, 16-18.

Interview taken in KU Girls Hostel.

state of Radio in Nepal

In Nepal, the first Radio station Radio Nepal was established in 1950. However, it can be estimated that even before 1950, the people had been possibly experiencing the taste of listening to the radio from the stations of neighboring countries.India had already started broadcasting by 1923, and hence it is assumed that Nepalese working there certainly listened to Indian radio broadcasts. After the establishment of radio stations in India, the radio became popular in elite circles in Nepal too. However, without the ruler’s assent, nobody was allowed to have a radio set.In July 1946, the then Prime Minister Padma Shamser Rana declared that people could have personal radios. He also arranged to broadcast native radio, Nepal Broadcasting from Bijuli Adda in January 1948. But this could not last long. Padma Shamser Rana resigned from the post of the prime minister and a few months later, this transmission was also halted. This was not to last for long and in August 1948 it was revived again. Mohan Shamser, then Prime Minister, made arrangements to bring two transmitters in order to improve transmission.In 1950, the Nepali Congress Party was fighting against the Rana autocracy and freedom fighters had also begun to run radio transmissions called Prajatantra Nepal Radio from Biratnagar.On 31 March 1996, the station that would become Radio Sagarmatha aired its first test signals on FM 102.4 Mhz without a license.When NEFEJ finally received a broadcasting license on 18 May 1997, Radio Sagarmatha became the first fully independent radio station in the country.By 2005 there were some 50 FM stations on the air with more than one third of these operating on a non-profit basis (the basic criteria to be considered as a community radio).Some 150 licenses were granted between April 2006 and July 2007, including more than 65 to non-profit groups. In August 2007, ACORAB listed its membership at 90 radio stations with 33 broadcasters on air. However, according to UNESCO, 216 licenses had been issued by the Government of Nepal, as of July 2007 with 78 FM stations broadcasting. The growth of community radio has been equally large with 93 licenses issued beginning May 2007 and 35 stations on air.

As by the date 10th November, 2008, the status of FM radio is as the following:
Number of FM radio licenses issued: 299
Operational Fm radio stations : 172
Operational Fm radio transmitters: 195
Multiple channel FM broadcasters: 4
Multiple site FM broadcasters: 5
FM broadcasters with satellite uplink: 5

In Nepal, all types of radio are already in use but it hasn’t been classified in proper way. However, FM radio stations can still be divided into commercial radio, public radio, community radio and pirated radio. Pirated radio is mostly against government. Nepal Government licensed private radios are called commercial and community radio. The government owned radio is called public radio. There is still difference in classification of radios. Operational radios and televisions as permitted by National Broadcasting Act 2049 and National Broadcasting law 2052 has classified into same group.

Radio Broadcasting Associations
Association Of Community Radio Broadcasters’ (ACORAB)
Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN)
Far-Western FM Radio Broadcasters' Forum
Kathmandu Valley FM Radio Broadcasters' Forum
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC).