Misa-Pasa: From vision to venture

Misa-Pasa, a women-led business whose name means ‘Girl Friends’ in Newari, is dedicated to promoting self-care, growth, and personal development. The business is founded on the belief that carefully curated products and services can positively impact people’s lives. Misa-Pasa operates through two brands that share a mission to help people lead more fulfilling lives.

The first brand, Pal, focuses on mindfulness and holistic wellness, offering a variety of products and services designed to help people integrate mindful living into their daily routines. The second brand, Laharaa, specializes in women’s formal wear, aiming to boost confidence through thoughtfully designed, high-quality clothing.

Shreya Malla and Shalu Thapa, co-founders of Misa-Pasa, first crossed paths in high school, quickly forming a lasting friendship that carried them through their BBA studies. When Thapa moved to Delhi for further education, she gained valuable experience in product development at a garment manufacturing company.

After the Covid-19 lockdown, when Malla was contemplating ‘what next,’ the idea for Pal began to take shape. In 2022, the two friends shared long and meaningful conversations over coffee, discussing the significance of wellness in life. Laharaa started with its involvement in the Business Accelerator program, WeScale, an initiative under the USAID South Asia Regional Digital Initiative (SARDI) in collaboration with local network partner Safal Partners.

During the program, Laharaa’s products were in the research and development phase, with a strong focus on brand building, developing prototypes, and gathering feedback to refine their designs. By March 2024, Laharaa was revamped and officially launched at a fashion show organized by Hatti Hatti Nepal on the occasion of Women’s Day. Both of them. left their jobs to fully dedicate themselves to Pal and Laharaa.

For Thapa, the inspiration stemmed largely from personal experiences during the lockdown, which led to a focus on wellness, lifestyle changes, and a more structured approach to daily life through planning, diary-keeping, and journaling. At the same time, during the lockdown, Malla was also focusing on developing her skills and mindfulness, recognizing the importance of reflection, meditation, and allowing the mind to explore freely. Through frequent conversations with Thapa about their shared interests and life approaches, everything naturally came together.

Both of them recognized a gap in the market, they couldn’t find a planner that met their specific needs. This realization fueled the creation of Pal Journal. Malla first pitched the idea of Pal.

“We were discussing how much we enjoyed tracking our wellness, activities, and journaling. The conversation between the two of us was so positive and aligned that it just felt right. That’s when we thought, why not create a product? And that’s how Pal, the planner, was born,” said Thapa. “I wanted to do something beyond my regular routine. When I shared this with Thapa, she was immediately on board,” added Malla. The name ‘Pal’ for the planner was inspired by the meaning of the word. A pal is someone who stands by you through life’s ups and downs.

On the other hand, Laharaa was also in its early stages. It was originally called ‘All About Formals.’ After market research and product development, the concept of Laharaa became clearer—it would be a brand that would empower women with functional workwear that met the unique needs of structure, size, and style.

The decision for Malla and Thapa to leave their full-time jobs and venture into starting their own business was far from easy. There were numerous obstacles. People around them often expressed their concerns, questioning their decision on starting a business during the uncertain times of the pandemic when so many others were closing down. Despite all that, they remained determined to pursue their vision.

“People would often ask me when I’d get a ‘real’ job. There was a lot of doubt and skepticism. But here we are now. And we feel like we are on the right track after our recent victory in the Coca-Cola Saksham Accelerator and Mentorship Program 2024. It was a much-needed turning point,” said Malla.

Pal offers two types of journals—a personal journal designed for private writings and time management, and a professional journal, designed specifically to help with work organization and planning. It’s a valuable tool for managing daily, weekly, and monthly tasks as well as structuring work agendas. Inspired by wellness, Pal also provides workshops, focusing on creating a non-judgmental, safe space that fosters a supportive community.

Laharaa, on the other hand, aims to offer comfortable, versatile apparel suitable for professional settings, catering to a wide range of sizes to accommodate diverse body shapes. By embracing the sizes of Nepali women, Laharaa strives to ensure inclusivity for all women. Both brands are committed to growth, self-development, and supporting people on their journey toward personal and professional progress.

There are exciting plans on the horizon, with several upcoming projects in the works. Pal has new workshops coming up and Laharaa is gearing up for the launch of a fresh collection. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy for both brands, as they continue to innovate and expand their reach in the near future.

Positive feedback is a driving force behind the duo’s determination to overcome daily challenges. “It brings us immense joy when customers tell us how Pal has positively influenced their daily lives. At Laharaa, we deeply value our customers’ input, whether it’s about design or fabric choices, and we are constantly working to improve our products based on their feedback,” said Thapa.

The two friends reflect on the most rewarding aspects of their journey. “For a long time, I kept telling myself that I wanted to start something, to be an entrepreneur, to build my own business. It took a lot of time, but finally taking that step and entering this space has been incredibly rewarding,” Thapa shared. Malla added, “Practicing entrepreneurship daily is fulfilling in itself, but I love the feedback we receive from our customers. The thought that Pal might be making a significant difference in someone’s life feels so good.”

The vision for Misa-Pasa is to significantly broaden their reach in the coming years. This means taking their products and workshops to cities across Nepal, ensuring that more people have access to them. They also have ambitious plans to take their products global within the next five years, aiming to make a positive impact on a much larger scale.

Misa-Pasa is open to collaborating with various brands and companies besides encouraging young people to join as interns or team members, offering them the opportunity to grow.