Mexicali Blues and Rabi's company are both family businesses! (In pic: Rabi, Pete, and their daughters.)

MEET THE MEXICALI MAKER: RABI, NEPAL

Two companies, two generations! Fathers and daughters working together on both sides of the globe.

"On our first trip to Nepal – over 15 years ago – we met Rabi through a mutual friend. We checked out his showroom in Kathmandu and immediately loved his fleece-lined wool, his happy demeanor and jovial spirit, and we knew we were in the right place! Since that time we have really gotten to know his extended family, and have spent many nights having fun, eating meals, and being guided around his hometown and the center of his wool production in the ancient Newari city of Bhaktapur. Rabi is deeply rooted in his community, where he employs many knitters who are able to work at home or in "knitting circles" close to home.

When arriving in Nepal after the massive earthquake in 2015, we visited Rabi and saw first-hand the devastation his town of ancient temples, buildings, and stupas had endured. Many building were destroyed or damaged in this famous World Heritage city. His factory was also structurally damaged and he was working out of a temporary location.

When we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and a lively knitting circle of women who were grateful for the orders we were soon to place. Knowing about the hardships they had endured, we ordered much more than normal to do our part to help get these skilled craftswomen back to work. Seeing the resilience of people after such hardship makes one think about things in a whole different light. We felt lucky to be a part of such an inspiring community of artisans. Every time I put on my favorite fleece lined wool hat, I feel grateful to know first-hand the extraordinary people and the extraordinary place where this comes from."

--Mexicali co-owner Kim Erskine

SHOP FLEECE-LINED WOOL FROM RABI AND HIS TEAM

 

#MEXICALIMATCH UPDATE: THE EARTHQUAKE-PROOF JANAJAGRITI PRIMARY SCHOOL IS COMPLETE!

#MEXICALIMATCH UPDATE: THE EARTHQUAKE-PROOF JANAJAGRITI PRIMARY SCHOOL IS COMPLETE!

The devastating 2015 earthquakes in Nepal destroyed the Janajagriti Primary school in the remote mountain village of Rok, Solukhumbu, making it unsafe for its 47 students to study in.
 
Immediately after the earthquakes, dZi Foundation built a temporary learning center so the students could resume their classes. For three years, the students studied in classrooms of roofing tin and bamboo. dZi's first priority was ensuring these young students could return to a safe school.
 
In June of 2017 we teamed up with dZi to launch the Mexicali Match to raise funds for a new school, which would cost $50,000 to construct. We matched dollar-for-dollar $25,000 of your amazingly generous donations and by the end of the year, together we had achieved our goal!
 
Working with local masons and other community volunteers, dZi built a new school using Mild Steel technology - a design proven to resist earthquakes. It is also more lightweight than traditional designs, making it well-suited to the steep mountains of Nepal.
 
The new Janajagriti Primary School was completed in 2018, with 6 new bright, spacious, and warm classrooms that will serve thousands of students for decades to come!
 
You helped this to happen, and we are so very grateful. BIG thanks to those who donated directly! Even if you weren't able to do that, 1% of every purchase you make at Mexicali goes to important world-bettering projects like these. . .making YOU one of the reasons the students in this picture are smiling so brightly. Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts! <3
 
dZi works very closely with remote communities in Nepal that often don’t get a lot of tourism or aid from the government. They focus on sustainable projects (like teaching community members how to grow kitchen gardens, installing compostable toilets, and building schools!) which is why we really love working with them. Stay tuned for further news on how we and dZi will be joining forces again, and see how a percentage of every Mexicali Blues purchase will be used to help!

#MEXICALIMATCH UPDATE: THANKS TO YOU, THESE KIDS HAVE A NEW SCHOOL!

#MEXICALIMATCH UPDATE: THANKS TO YOU, THESE KIDS HAVE A NEW SCHOOL!

Meet some of the happy kids who now are able to get their education in the earthquake-proof Himalaya Primary School that your contributions helped build! Working with the awesome dZi Foundation, we donated $25,000 through our World of Goods program to fund the construction of the school in Sotang, Solukhumbu, Nepal, which was completed last June!...

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