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Simple silhouettes, timeless designs, stylish, and comfortable—that is how your clothes should be, says Anuza Rajbhadari who, along with her younger sister, Alpaza Rajbhandari, founded the sustainable clothing brand Ekadesma. The 42-year-old mother of two loves natural fabrics and believes what you wear shouldn’t have a high environmental price tag. In a conversation with Cilla Khatry of ApEx, Rajbhandari spoke about her love for slow fashion and how sustainability is at the heart of everything she does. 

Can you tell us a little about Ekadesma? 

Ekasdesma is a lifestyle brand that was established in 2011. My sister and I identified a market gap for a homegrown brand. Nepal was importing a lot of stuff but we didn’t have that many options when it came to a locally-made clothing brand. We wanted to use locally sourced materials and create unique pieces that reflected our culture and roots. And, with the collective experience of working in the garment business and marketing, we thought we could pull it off. 

We started with a retail store in Thamel, Kathmandu. After the 2015 earthquakes, we realized we could and must generate employment for underprivileged women and started our manufacturing unit. Now we have two outlets, one in Thamel and the other in Kupondole, Lalitpur. We export our products to the US, Norway, and New Zealand.  

What is slow fashion and why is it important in today’s world?

Slow fashion is a movement for a better world. It’s an approach to fashion that focuses on sustainability. It’s fashion that thinks about its environmental and social impact. It’s also about ethical manufacturing and mindful consumption. Brands can promote slow fashion by being transparent and ethical in the manufacturing process. People can opt for slow fashion by being conscious of what and how they choose to buy clothing. 

There are a lot of things slow fashion takes into consideration that fast fashion doesn’t. From fair wages for the laborers and a safe working environment to higher textile quality and durability of the finished product, there are a lot of reasons why slow fashion is beneficial. Slow fashion is also timeless so when you buy a piece you can wear it multiple times, for different occasions. Ekadeshma is still selling designs that were a part of our earliest collections. That’s the beauty of slow fashion. It transcends trends. 

How do you come up with a new collection? 

Alpaza, my younger sister, who is based in Seattle in the US, designs the collection. It’s a lot of work and it takes a while. We only launch two capsule collections in a year—in summer and in winter. Once my sister sends us the designs, our team in Nepal, which has an assistant designer as well, studies them. We conduct a feasibility test and make a prototype. 

What’s different about Ekadesma is that we don’t just test the fitting of our clothes on dummies. We get actual people to try them. They tell us how comfortable it is and if something needs to be fixed. Then we manufacture the design in four sizes, from small to extra-large. Another thing we are conscious about as a sustainable business is to minimize waste. We try to use every possible inch of fabric. We make accessories like small pouches and laptop bags from leftover cloth. We are still trying to reduce the waste produced and, if possible, go zero-waste. 

What are some major challenges of running a sustainable business?

People are much more aware of sustainability and its importance now than they were when we started. But it’s still quite a challenge to make them understand why our products are a bit on the expensive side. In that sense, I believe there is still a lack of awareness and education. It’s been an issue since day one. There is also no clear government policy for sustainable businesses. There are no studies or reports to measure the impact of sustainable businesses. People aren’t aware of the positive chain of events that they kick off when they opt for sustainable fashion.

As a sustainable business, transparency is key. But we have to deal with suppliers and weavers who would rather not be transparent. So that causes problems in the supply chain. Since we only use natural materials like cotton, linen, and hemp, we also have to be extra careful to make sure there aren’t any synthetic materials in our textile. It requires a lot of effort, time, and patience. 

How do you overcome them?

We are particular about our textile weavers. We only work with the transparent ones. We also try to be more visible to create more awareness. We showcase our brand at fairs and exhibitions. Despite having two outlets, we use every opportunity to promote our brand. We reach out to people and talk about sustainable business. 

Challenges can affect you personally so, as a business owner, you have to look at the positive side of things and power on. It’s easy to give up. My sister and I have had moments when we questioned why we were doing what we were doing. But you have to believe in your company’s vision and long-term goals. We wanted to give back to the community and, as cliché as it might sound, we are passionate about our work. Also, we receive good feedback from people who wear our clothes. We have seen the growth of the women who work with us. They are happy and empowered. It gives us every reason to continue despite the difficulties.

How can people incorporate sustainable fashion into their lifestyles?

Our brand has grown organically, largely through word of mouth. I think that is because, slowly but surely, people are waking up to the importance of sustainability. Sustainability is a conscious way of living, and consumers are a lot more conscious than ever before. But the younger generation is driven by trends and that promotes fast fashion. To change that, effort is needed on a policy-level scale. 

On an individual level, there are many ways in which you can opt for sustainable fashion. Rewearing and restyling your clothes is the best way to be sustainable in your fashion choices. You can re-dye your cotton clothes to give them a new lease of life. DIY ideas can be used to mend your clothes and give them a fresh look.

What has been your biggest lesson so far as a business owner and a promoter of sustainability?

As a business owner, you have to be patient and resilient. It’s easy to start a business but it’s difficult to give continuity to it. When you start something new, you are sure of your ideas and you have a lot of energy. But when you start facing hurdles, as you inevitably will, it can be tempting to give up. That is when you have to give yourself a pep talk and be willing to learn and adapt and do what it takes to stick to your business ideals. I wasn’t a very patient person but owning a business, especially one that is as challenging as sustainable fashion, I have realized that you can’t expect instant results. You have to be persistent in your efforts.

Nasser Sulaiman Al Haider, Chairman of Al Sulaiman Holdings, Qatar, recently visited Kathmandu for the Annual Board Meeting of Zerone Technologies Pvt Ltd. The group holds diverse business interests across various geographies, including Jordan, India, Malaysia, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Singapore, and the USA. They have investments spanning a spectrum of sectors, such as Technology, Healthcare, Retail, and Services.

Zerone Technologies serves as a subsidiary of Al Sulaiman Holdings and spearheads the Group’s business endeavors in the SAARC countries, notably Nepal. Below are excerpts from the interview with Al Haider:

What IT and technology services does Zerone offer?

Zerone provides a comprehensive range of customized low-voltage solutions and services, offering an end-to-end suite tailored to individual requirements. Their offerings encompass various domains, including Fire Alarm and Public Announcement Systems, Security systems such as CCTV, Access Control, Gate Automation, and Perimeter Security. Additionally, they specialize in IT Networking solutions, covering IT cabling, Network switches, Wi-Fi, Routers, and Firewall Security. Zerone also addresses Data security needs, offering solutions for Data Centers, server rooms, and Audio Visual Systems like Video Conferencing, Video Walls, Video switching, Boardroom, and Meeting-room setups. Their expertise extends to Smart Automation solutions, IP Telephony communication solutions, Building Management System, Lighting automation systems, and Guest Room Management Solutions. Furthermore, Zerone caters to ICT Hardware requirements, providing Servers, Workstations, Desktops, Laptops, Printers, and other peripherals. This comprehensive suite of services accommodates a diverse spectrum of technological and infrastructure necessities.

In this era of rapid technological advancements, how challenging is it to provide services amid constant changes?

Staying abreast of the ever-evolving technology landscape is crucial, and we are committed to crafting and implementing forward-thinking platforms for our customers. We consistently invest in updating and training our engineers and designers in emerging technologies within our sector. This proactive approach safeguards our customers’ investments against obsolescence, ensuring their continued relevance and efficiency.

What services have you offered in collaboration with companies in Nepal?

As I mentioned earlier, we are offering the full suite of all the low-voltage products and services to our clients in Nepal. 

Name some of your completed and on-going projects in Nepal?

We have successfully concluded projects for renowned establishments such as Marriott Hotel, Aloft Hotel, Hyatt Place, Dusit Princess, and Holiday Inn Express. Currently, we are actively engaged in implementing our solutions at Hilton, Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Mercure, Holiday Inn Pokhara, and Hyatt Place Butwal.

Additionally, it’s worth noting our extensive involvement in over 30 completed or ongoing Marriott Hotels across the SAARC region. These projects span various esteemed brands including St Regis, Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott, Westin, Le Meridien, Four Points, Courtyard, and Fairfield.

With many businesses facing closure due to global economic recession, how do you navigate and operate effectively in such challenging times?

Our company is propelled by a robust vision that emphasizes embracing adversity as a pathway to successful growth and extending our gaze beyond local opportunities to sustain expansion. We prioritize the development and investment in a highly skilled workforce as a foundational pillar for achieving success. Guided by this philosophy, both during and following the covid recession, we have emerged as a significantly stronger company.

Managing an international business network involves navigating diverse rules and laws in each country. What challenges arise from working on a global scale?

As the world converges into a more compact workspace, we depend on top-tier global consultants to provide us with advice on cross-border geographies when necessary. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that understanding each country’s business intricacies requires firsthand on-ground experience.

With collaborations with numerous companies and brands, how do you mobilize your team to meet varied needs and demands?

Within our organization, we’ve cultivated specialists dedicated to each product category constituting our low voltage solutions. Working collaboratively with onsite field engineers, these specialists ensure project delivery aligned with precise customer specifications. It’s crucial to highlight that our solution designs are exclusively tailored to each customer—there’s no possibility of replication due to the unique and specific needs we cater to. Considering this, one can envision the extensive backend design efforts invested in delivering each project.

It appears you’ve received awards for your services. Could you share insights into a particular working style or approach that sets you apart and could inspire others?

We have been humbly awarded by various agencies, Partner OEMs, and Clients solely because of our Customer Centric approach, that sets us apart from our competitors.

What business challenges have you encountered during your work?

Covid-19 was one of the biggest challenges that we have faced in our lifetime and has left its impression on each one of us in some form or the other. Covid-19 also brought with it a numerous disruption such as complete halt of all non-medical business activities; production, supply chains and cross-border movement. 

Today, new challenges have emerged in the form of conflicts in the parts of the world which have many repercussions in the global economies.

Hence, the reality is that we will have to innovate and adapt our businesses quicker to the global realities that confront us and cushion the impact of such events in the future as well constantly.

Lastly, how was your visit to Nepal and we would like you to share some of our experiences?

I’ve eagerly anticipated visiting Nepal for quite some time now, drawn by the promising business opportunities and the undeniable beauty of your country. Experiencing the rapid pace of development here has been truly heartening.

During my visit, I had the privilege of meeting industry veterans and gaining firsthand insights into the investment landscape of Nepal. It was a pleasure meeting the dynamic Gaurav Agarwal, who introduced Marriott Brands like Fairfield, Marriott, and the upcoming Moxy to Kathmandu. I’m especially grateful to him for choosing Zerone Technologies as the implementation partner for our inaugural project in Nepal, and for guiding Jaspal Sehdave, who leads Zerone’s business in India and the SAARC region.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Maheshwor Shrestha, the MD of Chhaya Devi Complex and The Aloft Hotel. I was delighted to learn about his team’s commendable work in expanding hydro generation capacity in the Energy sector. Furthermore, meeting Vikram Singh, the General Manager of Aloft Hotel, was delightful, especially with the delicious kebabs and delicacies he treated us to.

An equally enriching encounter was with Dorjee Lama, the visionary behind the picturesque Dusit Princess in Kathmandu and several upcoming branded projects across Nepal. Engaging with Desh Bandu Basnet provided valuable insights into similar geographies and growth patterns across developing economies. His passion and vision for business, evidenced by his ongoing hospitality projects including a Mercure Hotel in Kathmandu and a Ramada Hotel in Itahari, were truly inspiring.

I was honored to meet Abhishek Goyal, General Manager Projects at CG Hotels & Resorts, and to learn about the group’s diverse range of branded hospitality projects in Nepal, such as the Crowne Plaza in Lalitpur and the Lemon Tree Hotels in Chitwan and Nagarkot.

Moreover, our discussions on the government’s investment priorities and policies with Rajesh Kazi Shrestha, Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Nepal, alongside Durk Man Maharjan, MD, and Punya Bhattarai, CEO of Microtech, provided valuable insights. Their partnership and support have been instrumental to Zerone’s endeavors in Nepal.

Additionally, meeting Rakesh Kaul, CEO of SAN Engineers and Consultants, offered valuable perspectives on overcoming constraints for project deliveries.

Finally, interacting with Senthil Kumar, Sr Regional Director Architecture, Design and Construction at Hilton International, and Manoj Sharma, the Project Head of the upcoming Hilton Project in Kathmandu, was enlightening. Learning about the progress of this prestigious project, which Zerone is also involved in, was truly gratifying.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is the highest academic institution for natural sciences in China. It is also a comprehensive research and development center for natural sciences and high technology. It aims to be a hub for innovative talent, a high-level national science and technology think tank, and an internationally renowned research institution.

Under CAS, there are different wings, including the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, and Xinjiang Tourism Research Academy. Recently, delegates from these different institutes visited Nepal for a two-week long trip.

Dr Zhaoping Yang led the team, who is a professor at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research under CAS. She is also a Director of Xinjiang Tourism Research Academy and an expert of the World Heritage Expert Committee of National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Shristi Kafle sat with Dr Yang to talk about her tourism impressions. Excerpts:

We learned that this is the first visit of your team to Nepal, what is your impression of this country?

I have been to over 60 countries, but it took me a long time to visit neighboring Nepal. I had heard a lot about Nepal and the Himalayas, and it’s really very beautiful. I am deeply impressed by the heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley and the artistic detailing of the monuments and ancient structures. We visited the famous Durbar Squares and were amazed by the spectacular traditional architecture. The history, art and designs are quite unique. Each piece of art is exclusive, which cannot be found elsewhere. Besides Kathmandu, we visited Chitwan National Park, Pokhara and the Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini. All these places have their own beauty and charm. We loved the food and warm hospitality too.

What is the major purpose of this visit? What are the key findings?

Under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, we are here mainly to study natural and cultural heritage protection and management and tourism planning and development. We did a preliminary study on trans-boundary natural heritages and tourism and plan to submit a report to the concerned authorities. I realized that the natural heritages of Nepal are of international standard, and they have huge potential of attracting more tourists. The richness of dense forests and variety of wildlife make the natural heritages stunning. We are amazed by the splendor of the Chitwan National Park. Similarly, the cultural heritage sites have unique features, which we realized aren't promoted enough. Nepal usually brands itself as a destination for mountaineering and trekking, but we felt that Nepal is much more than that. It shouldn’t limit itself as a destination for only outdoor adventures, which is seasonal. But it should brand other tourism areas too. For example, there could be heritage focused activities like heritage walks or culture tours and so on. Nepal can promote itself as an all-weather destination, as there are endless possibilities and choices.

Did the Chinese Academy of Sciences explore any areas of cooperation with the Nepali agencies?

We held meetings with different institutions focused on tourism, education and natural heritages in Nepal. The meetings dwelt on possible areas of cooperation through research and exchanges. There are many things that both countries can learn from each other.

For example, the academy inked an agreement with Himalayan White House College in Kathmandu to boost education cooperation between the two countries. We discussed various possible measures to incorporate students of BHM and Biotech faculty in the Chinese universities. We also agreed on conducting student exchange programs in the future. Besides, we can jointly conduct research on various areas covering tourism, archaeology and the education sector.

We also interacted with the national park officials and local government representatives to discuss ways on how to promote tourism. This trip is just a beginning, we plan to explore the ways and measures to work further on this front.

Since your team was more focused on tourism, what major gaps do you think need to be bridged to boost Nepal’s tourism industry?

The most important thing to boost the tourism sector is good planning and adopting the right strategies. It should be planned for the long-term instead of short ones, considering all the components and economic impacts to locals. I was directly engaged in tourism planning for the Xinjiang region of China a long time ago, and today the place has emerged as a popular tourism destination for domestic tourists. Though it snows for months, we have developed winter focused outdoor activities, and that is loved by the travelers. Nepal can also consider promoting itself in a similar way.

Though the destinations here are unique, the infrastructures are not intact. We mostly traveled via road, and the road condition is not that good in many places. The properties are gigantic in the hospitality sector, so Nepal can also promote itself as a destination for high-end tourists. The hospitality is warm but there are language barriers, which can be bridged. Nepal can attract more Chinese tourists through communication and promotion in different platforms in Chinese language. There is a need for aggressive marketing activities to cater to all kinds of tourists.

Despite the richness of Kathmandu valley, we found that there are some issues related to urban planning. For example, the jumbled black wires on the poles in the streets have made the city look ugly. It is not a big issue to deal with as it can be resolved with underground wiring with proper planning. The city would look more beautiful. Next is the haphazard construction of buildings in the heritage sites. These messy buildings have blocked the views in many places. The tall buildings have also blocked the beautiful mountain view. I believe these are minor issues and have solutions with proper planning. Kathmandu can be developed as a heritage city.

For natural heritages, the government authorities should work together with the private sector. The public-private model can be adopted for the smooth management of the national parks. Similarly, there is a huge scope for promotion of Buddhism. The holy land can be promoted among the Buddhist followers of all over the world, including that of China.

What are your suggestions to attract more Chinese tourists in Nepal?

As mentioned above, the first thing is Nepal can be developed as an all-season destination. The Chinese travelers are fond of rich culture and diverse food; thus the priority should be given to promotion of cultural heritage sites. New cultural and heritage tours can be developed. Since there is a language barrier, the Nepali guides should have proficiency in Chinese language which would make the stay in Nepal easy and smoother. Next is improving connectivity. More flights can be added between the Nepali and Chinese cities, and at affordable rates. Internally, the roads should be in good and safer condition to encourage road travels. There should be standard hotels and resorts too. Many Chinese people love luxury travel so the infrastructure should be built in a standard manner. Nepal can explore to attract high-end Chinese tourists, who can spend more and help the local livelihood. Lastly, the most important thing is well tailored marketing strategies and digital promotion in Chinese platforms.

Surya Prasad Lamichhane, a resident of Begnas Lake area in Pokhara-31, has gained global recognition for his remarkable ability to cover his body with live bees for hours. He drew the attention of the Guinness Book of World Records in 2016 when news spread worldwide that he covered his body with 30,000 live bees continuously for two hours.

Surya’s care, nurture, and interest in bees have established him as a renowned beekeeper. He has trained beekeeping to some 15,000 youths and farmers over the past decade. “About 20 percent of those who learnt beekeeping from me are foreigners,” Surya shared with ApEx during the 20th anniversary celebration of his farm recently. During the ceremony, Surya distributed honey produced in his farm to all the participants and other stakeholders. In an interview with ApEx, Surya shared insights into his farm and beekeeping as a profession. Excerpts:

Please tell us about your farm.

I produce almost 1,500 kg of honey every year. I have set up 300 bee hives in fields that I have taken on lease from other farmers. You can see my hives in the mustard fields. Honey is not only beneficial for health but also has the potential to attract foreign investments. It serves as a medicine for numerous diseases as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and antibacterial agents. In cold weather, it is highly beneficial when consumed with hot water.

Why are you distributing your honey for free today?

I have observed a lesser interest in locals compared to people of other countries when it comes to consumption of honey. I want to increase the value of honey for locals and express gratitude to my neighbors, stakeholders, and acquaintances for their support extended to me. That is why I distributed honey free of cost to celebrate 20th anniversary of my farm

 You are known world over despite coming from a small village. What do you think are the reasons behind your success?

One needs to have a willpower to succeed. I did not conduct any feasibility study before starting my business. I dedicated myself fully to my farm, making decisions based on my own assessment of whether to continue the work. The area where I keep my hives is recognized for its wetland and abundant biodiversity with medicinal plants. Honey produced here is of high quality. My dedication led me to gain global recognition, and I did not give up despite facing challenges initially. I have provided training to youth volunteers from various countries, and the global demand for organic honey has increased. This has prompted people to learn the indigenous beekeeping techniques.

How do you see beekeeping contributing to national development?

Every sector can contribute to the national economy if managed well. Beekeeping can attract significant capital, but unfortunately, the government's response to this sector has been disappointing. No research has been undertaken to measure the potential of beekeeping among diverse natural plant species. Local farmers are not getting due recognition. People from different parts of the country have invited me to learn beekeeping. But not a single local unit is taking initiative to expand beekeeping. The government's indifference to this sector has led to a scarcity of technicians to guide and innovate in beekeeping.