We are Ochre
As a family business we believe strongly in fair trade and investing in people and communities, but not at the expense of our products – as it happens, we think they go hand in hand. Here’s a little more information on how we make our beautiful clothes in Nepal.
Production
Ochre has two production sites in Kathmandu, Nepal, where we manufacture our high-quality knitwear and wraps. We select and import only the finest cashmere yarn from Mongolia, where it is spun prior to being shipped to our facilities in Kathmandu. The clothing is made on hand machines – a labour intensive and skilled process. We employ and train mainly female workers to use the machines that knit the basic designs into the correct shape, style and measurements of the garment, using pre-made design patterns. The garment is then dyed, assembled and hand finished, passing quality control before being shipped.
The People
We employ about 100 people in our production sites in Nepal. Our workforce comprises mainly of young women who are usually the main income earners within their family group. We ensure that they are well paid, and have excellent working conditions, as we feel these are basic rights.
We have introduced facilities into the workplace that would seem normal in the United kingdom but are not so common in South Asia – for example, clean drinking water machines and proper toilet facilities. There is very little staff turnover within the company – most of our employees have been with us from the very beginning, and we value their continued presence as the company has grown.
Our Aims
We try at all times to be environmentally aware, using as many local materials as we can, creating a supply chain which creates work for people outside our business. All the packaging, tags, and gift boxes are sourced locally, as well as the transport and shipping services that move our goods. All in all, it creates a rich source of income for the community.