the producers
ZipSleeves are handmade in Nepal by Friends Handicrafts and Get Paper.
Both operators provide work opportunities, skills training and fair wages to marginalised men and women in Nepal, promoting environmental awareness and community development.
Friends Handicraft
Friends Handicrafts is a small producer group of Manushi, and a nonprofit organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal with the mission of fighting urban poverty. Friends Handicrafts supports skills training and income generation programs for eighty women heads of households living in and around the capital, fostering a sense of independence and confidence in an otherwise marginalized population. The organization also provides books and school supplies for the children of participating women artisans.
Established in 1991, Manushi is a non-profit, non- governmental organization aiming to promote the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized women and men in Nepal. Initially founded for the promotion of traditional arts and crafts produced by the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized women, Manushi has now grown and diversified its activities incorporating management and skill training, entrepreneurship development, micro-credit for women, health & environment, and gender concerns directly impacting on women's empowerment and community development.
Manushi has a firm belief that the promotion of arts and crafts not only helps the poor and disadvantaged women to earn a decent living but also preserves the rich culture, tradition and heritage of Nepal. Starting with a humble beginning, Manushi has now benefited to about 300 producers, 80 percent of whom are women. Manushi has also endeavored to revive several of the almost extinct traditional crafts across the country by reaching these communities and encouraging them to resume production for activities such as the dyes, use of weavings methods and traditional patterns.
Manushi also supports eco-friendly development with the use of natural dye on cotton textiles, and sustainable resource management with the use of renewable natural resources, namely Allo/Hemp, Lokta paper and bamboo products.
Get Paper
Get Paper Industry, a Hand Made Paper Products Cooperative, was established in 1985 using the Lokta plant as a raw material. After building a successful relationship with The Body Shop in 1998 GPI learnt about recycling techniques and went on to become a fair trade supplier of The Body Shop International in 1989. GPI now uses waste materials like cotton rags, waste paper, agriculture waste like banana fibbers, straw and water hyacinth, their production process is environmentally friendly and paper drying is based on sun light.
