Handloom Weaving

The hand spun and handloom cloths worn by men, women and children are a splendid expression of Nepalese lifestyle.

Today, weaving is big business; many producers use power looms but many families in the Valley's old towns and localities still weave traditional cloths in handlooms. In some rural areas, village women can be seen spinning and dyeing cotton, woolen yarns while others are working on their handlooms.

Handloom fabrics in Nepal range from cotton in traditional patterns to allo cloth, which is woven from fibers of a plant from of the nettle family that have been boiled, beaten and spun.

Traditional items made from these fabrics include caps, shawls, sacks, bags and clothing. Today new lines of ready to wear products have also been developed to take advantage of the durability, versatility and subtle colors of these fabrics.

a) Dhaka Products

Dhaka is one of the handloom fabrics that is gaining more and more popularity amongst buyers.

Dhaka cloth is a traditional and intricate handwoven material that has been preserved in Nepal and is valued for its artful handwork and natural fibers. Beautiful shawls and cloths are commonly made from Dhaka.

This traditional pattern weaving is done on wood and bamboo treadle looms by Limbu and Rai women of the eastern hill area (Tehrathum) of Nepal. The stripes of mercerized sewing cotton, with their intricate colorful stranded cotton patterns, are used in this weaving.

Each weaving is unique because of the changing of shed. The weaver decides, without chart or counting threads, which section of the warp she is going to lay the colors which form the pattern.

(b) Pashmina Shawls

Nepal is also known for its finely woven pashmina shawls, an indigenous product of Nepal.

They are handmade from wool sheared from mountain goats. Most of the skins come from high altitudes of 9000 to 11000 feet above sea level.

Depending on preference, skins are usually produced in four colors: gray, white, black, and cream.

The wool closest to the skin is used and is carded to separate the rough outer part. The soft wool is then hand spun into thin and even pashmina yarn. This yarn is then hand woven into the loom, which has cotton, silk and pashmina warp.

Today, hand spun pashmina wool yarn can be replaced by imported fine machine spun yarn.

(c ) Allo

Allo is traditionally woven into cloth in a open back strap loom. Today, wooden looms are used to weave cloth, placemat and table runners. Allo thread is also knitted into vests, shawls, nets and a variety of new products ranging from bags, cushions covers, wallet, and clothing.

Natural dyes are currently being produced and are favored by many buyers.

The natural fibre of allo comes from the bark of giant nettle Girardinia diversifolia. It has been extracted for generations in the high mountain regions of Nepal (Sankhuwasabha, Dhankuta, Rolpa, Rukum) at an altitude of 1200 to 3000 meters, where it flourishes under the shade of mixed deciduous forests.

The seeds are shed freely and begin to grow with the onset of monsoon rains between April and June. Harvesting begins towards ends of August/September and continues until plants begin to flower around December.

Only mature thick stems are harvested; others are left to seed.

The stems are cut about 15 cm from the ground in order to leave sufficient stem for new shoots to spread. After the cutting and stripping, bundles of about five stems are held at the butt end and an incision is made with the teeth in each steam in order to separate the outer bark and fiber layer from the inner stem.

The barks are either processed while still lush or dried and are stored in bundles. The dried bark will be soaked in water before fibre extraction. The bark is then processed by boiling it for two to three hours in water with wood ash. The exposed fibers are beaten or rubbed between fingers to remove any remaining plant matter, and rinsed in water.

The wet fibers are then coated with a white micaceous clay soil for lubrication and to make their separation and spinning easier. The dry bundles of allo fiber are prepared for spinning by shaking out all surplus micaceous soil and then opened. For spinning women use a light weigh hand spindle.

Handmade Paper

Nepalese craftspeople have been producing handmade paper for a thousand years. The people of Nepal use natural paper in their daily life, for example when writing valuable legal documents, creating sacred or popular masks and making kites.

Likewise like monks of Tibet have always used it for their manuscripts and for printing sacred texts. A millennium has passed since the Tibetans introduced the even older Chinese technology of paper making to Nepal.

This paper is renowned for its exceptional durability and for its lively and special texture.

The bark from Daphne cannabina, or Daphne Papyracea "Lokta" in the local language, is used as the raw material. It is sustainably gathered at high altitudes thereby preserving the fragile ecology of Nepalese forests.

It is carried to villages that are two or three days walk down to the mountains, where the paper-makers clean and boil the bark. Beating the bark with wooden mallets produces a pulp which is poured into wooden frames, sun dried sheets are transported to paper factories where they are dyed, stenciled, printed and transformed in to beautiful products by craftspeople.

Today's handcrafted paper products, including greeting cards, stationary sets, notebooks, gift wrapping paper, bags, envelopes and photo frames, reflect the tradition of ancient and original Nepalese culture.

Wool

With a wide variety of wool bearing animals available in Nepal, woolen items have traditionally played an important part in everyday Nepalese life.

Today high quality sheep wool and agora wool from Nepal and imported wool from New Zealand are used to create beautiful knitwear sweaters, jackets, hats, caps, gloves and mittens.

Designs are based on both traditional Nepalese and classic western motifs and are available in a beautiful range of fashionable colours.

Metal

In Nepal, forging metal images is a very old art.

Metal craft products include images of popular motifs of Hinduism and Buddhism, but also utilitarian utensils.

These products are mostly produced by household units clustered around the city of Lalitpur (Patan).

Metal images are produced with the lost-wax casting. This method of casting is done by preparing a wax model, covering it with varieties of clay, heating the piece so that the wax is melted, extracting the liquid wax so that cavity is created, pouring metal into the cavity, cooling it and transferring the original model into the metal image. The metal image from the casting is very rough. This rough image is then made smooth and made precise by chiseling.

This complicated process requires an artist's conception, proper technology, an engineer's perfection and the skillful hands of a craftsperson.

The art and skill is passed down from parents to their children, which means artisans follow the age-old designs and production technology.

Filgree

Delicate brass wires are intricately wound to make filigree products. They are then given a gold or silver coating to enhance its beauty.

Filigree wirework originated in coral and turquoise stone jewelry. Gradually, this work was introduced in pillboxes or larger cases to hold different articles and other decorative items like animals. Recently, this art form has been adapted to make very fine and delicate Christmas tree ornaments.

Wood carving

The high quality of the Kathmandu Valley's wood carving craftsmanship is reflected in various articles, including windows, doors, mythological figures, chests, boxes, figures of gods and goddesses, and also animals.

The art of woodcarving has since the Middle Ages, as evident from artistic wood works found in various old temples, palaces and houses in and around Kathmandu valley.

The art slowly started dying out, but saw a resurgence since the 1960's, as woodcarving were bought by tourists visiting Nepal as decorations. The construction of new hotels and houses also created demand for artistic woodcarvings.

Most of the wood carving work is done in the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley, where production is widely spread across individuals and households.

Today's carvings have been scaled down to include such items as picture frames, mirror frames, small boxes, animals, buttons and decorative wall hangings.

Thankas Painting

Painting began in Nepal during the 11th century A.D. when Buddhists and Hindus made illustrations of deities and natural scenes.

Historically, Tibetan and Chinese influence in Nepalese paintings are quite evident in Paubhas (Thankas).

There are two types of Paubhas: the Palas, which are illustrative paintings of the deities, and the Mandala, which are mystic and complex diagrams featuring patterns of circles and square, which each have specific significance.

Thankas is a Tibetan style of painting that depicts various facts of the mystic sects of Buddhism.

They are painted on silk or cotton fabrics using bright colors of many hues.

Thankas were developed in the northern Himalayan regions by the Lamas. Thankas are used as wall decorations, but for Lamas they are objects of religious importance.

Besides Lamas, Gurung and Tamang communities are also producing Thankas, which provide substantial employment opportunities for many people in the hills. Some of the artistic religious and historical paintings are also done by the Newars of Kathmandu Valley.

Mithila Paintings

In certain villages of southern Nepal (Janakpur) it is a tradition for women to paint lively designs on walls for their homes, which vary depending on the occasion.

Now artists create these vibrant designs not only on walls but also painted on handmade Nepalese paper, posters and fabrics. Other products featuring Mithila imagery include mirrors, ceramics, table cloths, bed sheets and T-shirts.

Common Images include animals, including elephants, parrots, peacocks, turtles and fish, as symbols of prosperity and good fortunes, and wedding scenes and gods to bless new couples.

Terra-cotta / Ceramics

In Nepal, building and modeling in terra-cotta goes back 2600 years and still continues to this day. Terra-cotta temples, built between 14th and 18th centuries, display superbly carved and lively sculpture motifs.

Locally known as "kumhale" (one of several occupational castes of Nepal), Nepalese potters produce a range of quality ceramics product; earthenware statues, water and storage jars and flower pots are traditional products.

Today, producers have added interesting glazes, all lead free, and are expanding their product lines of terra-cotta into useful and decorative items, for example glasses, mugs, plates, tea pots, flower vases, and various styles of bowls.

Paper Mâché

Colorful paper mâché masks, depicting various Gods and mythical demons make unique decorations and are available in many sizes.

Popular export items are wooden and clays puppets with paper mâché masks; they come colorfully and ethnically dressed.

Other dolls are made from cloth and corn husk and depict the various occupational and ethnic groups of Nepal.

Basketry and novelty weaving

Baskets, as in many other cultures, play an important part in everyday life in Nepal.

They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, giving them many uses.

They are made from materials ranging from split cane to rice straw to bamboo to pine needles.

The "Dalo" was originally used in temples for straining rice beer, for storing grains and for holding fruits. Adapted for use today, it is both decorative and useful.

Vases, coasters, purses, trays, storage containers, and serving baskets are just a few of many available products.

Whether you choose a traditional basket woven according to time honored methods or one of the innovative new products, you will have a unique yet typical piece of Nepalese culture.

Horn and bone

Horn and bone products are newly developed Nepalese handicrafts.

Products include bottoms, ornaments and figurines.

Musical Instruments

Singing bowls, trumpets, drums, various kinds of flutes and cymbals are traditionally produced in Nepal.

So far their export performance is low but these items are liked by many consumers in the international market

Block Printing

Carving wooden blocks by hand into traditional patterns and using them as prints is a time honored and highly skilled craft.

With a history of printing on both paper and cloth, updated designs are now printed on specially prepared handmade paper and on hand loomed cotton fabrics, which in turn are used to create interesting products, such as unique stationary sets, clothing and household items like cushion covers, bed sheets, table cloths and napkins.

Silver Jewellery

The production of Nepalese silver jewelry has been an ancient tradition based predominantly on caste and culture.

Silver jewelry is handcrafted by highly skilled craftspeople from the Shakya and Sunar family. These craftspeople adapt various designs and now create jewelry that are beautiful works of art to meet the Western market trends. This unique feature makes Nepalese silver jewelry different form those produced by other countries.