Nepali Handcrafts

EquipNepal purchases and resells Nepali handcraft made by ladies who have been widowed, abandoned, or rescued out of prostitution. There are many beautiful items – including sterling silver jewelry with inlaid semiprecious stones, water buffalo bone jewelry, hemp/silk handbags and hats, punjabis (khurtas), handmade paper greeting cards and stationary, and other items. The money they earn from the sale of these items help them to be more self-sustaining and independent. Photos

The children at BCH make some handcrafts to pass the time after their homework is done and after they’ve had plenty of time to play – embroidered cotton pillowcases, cross-stitched tablecloths and placemats, and greeting cards.

We also carry handmade Gurkha knives (several sizes) and pashmina shawls (70% pashmina (i.e., cashmere) and 30% silk) in many beautiful colors, paper mache boxes, and Nepali tea, among other items.

Proceeds from our sales of all these items in the United States go back into funding projects in Nepal.

EquipNepal started selling handcraft and it has been an amazing success. It is truly beautifully made – and a blessing that starts in Nepal and ends in Nepal! Through the purchase of the handcraft, you are really making a difference in lives in Nepal. Since beginning this endeavor in the summer of 2004, EquipNepal has been able to fund a youth hostel for junior high and high school students who would otherwise travel a great distance every day to go to school (paying the rent and the chaperone and purchasing beds for them), put a roof on a pastor’s home in a mountainous region of Nepal, and fund several ministries who are making a difference through photo evangelism, literacy, guardian homes for orphans, and other projects. May the circle be unbroken!

Since July of 2004, we have been blessed to give to several ministries, including funds to add rooms to a home for the elderly, support a youth hostel for students who travel a great distance to school (two girls were killed while crossing a river during monsoon while going to school), support several projects at children’s homes, and put a roof on a pastor’s house.  Some of the ladies had big smiles on their faces when they were told how the beautiful things they made came full circle to make things better in their own country! More recent projects have been to purchase beds for a youth hostel, pay for a young girl’s kidney stone operation, and make an addition onto a elderly home’s building.

Some of the handcraft we have on a regular basis:

  • Sterling silver jewelry with semi-precious stones (bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants, and necklaces)
  • Carved water buffalo bone jewelry (bracelets, necklaces, earrings)
  • Carved bamboo jewelry from the Terai (bracelets, headbands, and hair clips)
  • Woven dhaka runners (various sizes)
  • Backpacks, Bible covers, and satchels
  • Handmade paper stationery, greeting cards, and books
  • Gurkha knives (several sizes)
  • Pashmina (cashmere) shawls (some 100% pashmina, some 70% pashmina/30% silk)
  • Embroidered cotton pillowcases
  • Cross-stitched tablecloths and placemats
  • Punjabis (traditional Indian/Nepali women’s pants, tunic, and scarf sets)
  • Hemp, hemp/silk, and cotton/silk knitted hats and purses
  • Wool/silk and cotton scarves
  • Nepali tea

Interested in purchasing some handcraft? Please contact Janis Viren.

Every item mentioned is not necessarily available at this time but please ask.

Coming Soon: a photo gallery and shopping. So please check back!

Sponsor a Jewelry Frenzy home or office party. You’ll get $25 worth of handcraft and 10% of the sales go to a local charity of your choice. E-mail or call Jan Viren for more details.