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38 Employees | Family Business | Artisanal Production |
Nepal is home to 1,310 different mountains, 129 different languages, 59 indigenous populations, 8 of the highest peaks in the world, and some of the friendliest people on the planet. Rohit and his family are Mexicali’s newest makers in Nepal, and we are excited to see how our family businesses grow and evolve together over the coming years. Rohit works hand in hand with his parents Bal Krishna and Tara, as well as his sister Rachana and her husband Nischal. We are proud to support their family business, their community and their employees, and above all else are happy to call Rohit and his family our friends.
Mexicali co-owners Pete and Kim Erskine met Rohit when meandering through the ancient streets of Kathmandu. His smile is infectious, as is his youthful energy and passion for the beautiful ethically made cotton products that he and his family produce. When Pete & Kim’s children Chauncey & Carly joined them in Nepal on their next trip, one of their first trips was to meet Rohit and visit his family’s workshop. This trip united the younger generations of two family businesses, and we look forward to continuing this relationship over smiles and stories for many moons to come.
Rohit moved back to Kathmandu after graduating from University in India and joined forces with his sister to start a clothing business in 2020. Their father, Bal Krishna, had spent the past 30 years working in textiles as a designer, manager, and maker, and he agreed to help them with some of the production practices. Luckily, many women who worked with Bal Krishna years ago returned to help the family grow their new business. Rohit’s family, in turn, provides for them and their families, assisting them with accommodation, education, and fair compensation. The excitement and energy is very apparent in all of the makers, and the pride for the products they create. Their workspace is full of sunshine, smiles, and colorful designs.
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(Carly & Kim with a crew of female makers at Rohit's workspace)
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Youthful energy is slowly transforming the nation of Nepal as the cultural tides are shifting and more opportunities are opening up for the younger generation of Nepalis. You can feel the winds of change in the crisp Himalayan breeze sweeping through the ancient gabled rooftops of hillside temples and through the hustle and bustle of the ever-developing eight-lane Ring Road that circles the city. You can see it in the architecture, with bamboo ladders juxtaposed against steel and glass structures, and in the art as ancient Thangka mandalas give way to more modern murals. You can hear it in the music that fills the air, with traditional Nepali folk passing the mic to rock riffs and rap beats. The current Mayor of Kathmandu, Balen Shah, became the youngest and first-ever independent Mayor of the capital at 33 years old. Shah took an alternative entrance to politics, using his political rap and social media presence as his podium to appeal to the younger voters.
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(Rohit, Chauncey, Kim, & Pete all smiles with the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range in the background)
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Rohit embodies this youthful energy with his modern style, adventurous spirit, calm, cool, and collected charm. He loves to ride his Royal Enfield motorcycle outside of the Ring Road, above the hillside temples, and adventure amongst the foothills of the Himalayas. Nature is his special place; he looks forward to giving back to the land that has given him so much. He and his sister Rachana have been developing new ideas and designs, with plans to plant their own organic cotton crop to use in their clothing. On our last trip to Nepal, Carly and Chauncey spent a couple of evenings with Rohit checking out the local music scene and belting out classic rock at a karaoke bar. Not only is Rohit a great clothing designer, but he can also do Freddie Mercury justice when singing “Don’t Stop Me Now.” The evening was a perfect beginning for two families from across the world, uniting and celebrating fresh, youthful energy while respecting the tradition, culture, and legacy of their respective family businesses.
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