Our new shipment from Nepal is on it’s way as well. Now just waiting at the port of Dubai and arriving in our location in the Netherlands soon. Keep an eye out on the site for some new and amazing Pashminas, including our new Eco-friendly Bamboo Pashmina.

Here is a quick sneak peak taken with an iPhone 3G while shooting a 90x200cm 70% cashmere / 30% silk pashmina shawl. Enjoy, stay tuned for our next update. And don’t forget to check our Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates .

Hi everyone, my name is Monica Lackman, and I’m the new Communications and Marketing Coordinator for Royal Bhaktapur’s U.S. venture. I’ve been mandated with the creative maintenance of this blog, and thus, over the next few months, you’ll hopefully be following along with the topics I hope to cover regarding Royal Bhaktapur as a fair trade oriented business, and as an advocate for poverty alleviation and economic justice.

Royal Bhaktapur was created not for the sake of making personal profit, but  for the sake of giving skilled craftspeople in Nepal an economic outlet through which to generate much needed income. You’ll hear hot topics these days about how we need to “fight against poverty”, and “promote global justice”, but what do such inspiring but ambiguous statements actually mean?

To an Economist, alleviating poverty means maximizing a country’s GDP and export potential. To an Education specialist, helping people out of poverty means providing them with quality schooling. Poverty is a nebulous issue, with numerous factors fueling it’s perpetuation throughout the world. The complications involved with Poverty’s existence make trying to find a “solution” that much more difficult and intangible.

Business is coming to play an increasingly prominent role in how people approach poverty. The Fair Trade movement focuses on working to facilitate locally based ways to provide financial freedom, through methods like business generation, vocational training and micro-enterprise.

Poverty is an issue that will be ever present on earth as long as there are imperfect humans who populate it. However, poverty alleviation can become a very realistic achievement if it is thought of in small ways through one community, one family and one person at a time.

Through the business empowering movements that promote concepts such as “Business as Mission” and “Fair Trade”, alleviating poverty around the world is becoming increasingly feasible. When people are provided with the tools needed to generate independent sources of income, business becomes a fantastic catalyst that affects numerous other threads in the fabric of our global community.

So far the new years resolutions for 2010 for updating the blog. There is a lot going on at Royal Bhaktapur. Especially the website is currently having a major overhaul in the system for new improvements, faster performance and higher user friendliness. In the coming days the site might have some flaws, but we’re doing our utmost best to keep this as minimum as possible.
Next month we’re expecting a new shipment with Bamboo Pashmina’s. Made of sustainable Bamboo material with the mix of regular wool. So stay tuned.

In the meanwhile as 2010 has just started, we’re having an interesting sale for our customers. All of our old label stock has to be sold as we’re focusing on our private label. This means great discounts, and a very luxury Pashmina scarf or shawl for a bargain. Sale ends as soon stock runs out. GONE = Gone

Check out the clearance section here.

Note: Don’t forget to register for an account to collect reward points which will give discounts on future purchases

We’re getting this question quite often. Actually the ways you can wear your Pashmina are endless. Depending on your clothing style, let it be a regular shirt, a suit, a dress or jacket there are always different ways to wear your Pashmina in an elegant style.

Text describes something briefly. A photo says more than thousands words. A short video summarizes it all. Watch this youtube video made by Travelista Fashion which shows you a few examples how to wear a Pashmina of 70x200cm.

As our company activities are focussed on the sale of Pashmina shawls, we have planned a visit to a Pashmina weaving center.
Our local man is Shree Ram. He holds his office in the centre of Bhaktapur. When we arrive there, he welcomes us in his office cum atelier, here part of the activities take place. Here, the Pashmina shawls are packed, sealed and prepared for transport.
After drinking a cup of traditional milk-tea, we discuss the making of Pashmina shawls and drive to weaving centre. The weaving center is located on the Bhaktapur-Kathmandu road.
All machines needed for the making of shawls are present here. The basic materials, the woolen threads are delivered on rolls, thereafter the treads are bundled to the needed thinness. The bundled threads are dyed for colored weaving or woven with natural thread and dyed afterwards. Threads of cotton, wool and silk are dyed separately and have different dying procedures.
The machines used here are powered by electricity. They are copies of the old English models from pre-Industrial Revolution. These techniques have been shipped to India and has been used almost unchanged till date.
The smaller weaving equipment is made from wood. For the different seizes of cloth the machines range from small to bigger size.
After our visit we return to Bhaktapur, were shown a selection of different Pashmina shawls. Unfortunately, the Jacquard Pashmnina shawls have been taken out of production. The competition by polyester Jacquard shawls was too high. From a distance they can be easily mistaken for a Pashmina Jacquard. The production of Jacquard Pashmina shawls will only be restarted on special request.
From now onwards we will market most of our shawls our shawls with the Royal Bhaktapur label. We will guarantee you no involvement of child labor and a fair trade product.
The following shawls are available with Royal Bhaktapur label:
•    100% Pashmina wool;
•    70 % Pashmina wool and 30% silk;
•    70 % Pashmina wool en 30 % silk, Jacquard Burberry;
•    Water Pashmina wool 90% Pashmina, 10% silk.

After our recent project visit to Nepal, we have decided to launch a new range of Pashmina shawls available in our online webstore. All our new made Pashmina shawls are provided with our own Royal Bhaktapur label. Please have a close look when you are viewing our products. These new shawls having our Royal Bhaktapur label added, will ensure you that you are buying a fair trade product. For more information please read our sustainability article on our website.

Specially and just added to our assortment are the Pashmina Jacquard Burberry shawls, made of 70% pure Pashmina wool, and 30% silk. With a size of approximately of 28 x 80 inch, you can wear these shawl on all occasions, but they are especially well suited for the colder winter days.

Next to our new Burberry range, we have a wide range of colors of the 100% Pashmina and the 70/30% Pashmina shawls available in a new size, 12×60 inch. Perfect for daily use and in combination for all kinds of clothing apparel (e.g. suits & dresses).

Please have a look in our online store to view our new products.

A new shipment from Nepal has arrived with Water Pashmina shawls. There are 12 beautiful colored shawls in a custom made size, 12 x 79 inch. Some of our clients have asked for a slightly longer shawl. We have had made these shawls made in an extended version, 20 inch longer version. Everybody will surely notice this beautiful shawl.

Unfortunately the manufacturer of the shawls has made a small mistake. They have written with ballpoint on the label of the shawls. Of course we did not appreciate this, but as they are small local manufacturer, we will accept their mistake, and told them never to repeat this mistake again. Nevertheless, we will pay them a fair anyhow.

For you as our customer we can offer these shawls with a special discount. This is a nice opportunity for you to obtain a Pashmina shawl for a very reasonable prize.

On Tuesday evening, 20th of March 2007, Eszeth Fashion House organized a fashion show displaying their new spring collection at the Nieuwe Doelen hotel in Middelburg.
Niki and Boud Buitenrust Hettema were invited by mrs. Zuidema from Eszeth Fashion House to attend the show and give an introduction to Pashmina shawls, which were part of this fashion show. Of course Niki and Boud very pleased because our Pashmina shawls were presented at this fashion show. Mrs. Zuidema had ordered a number of shawls in various colors especially spring collection.

The show was quite a success. All seats were occupied and the show was magnificent.
There was a display of beautiful spring fashion accompanied with special designed hats, bags and of course the Pashmina shawls.
During the break Niki presented Royal Bhaktapur and told the public about the quality of Pashmina wool and natural silk which are used to make the Pashmina shawls. The public was very much interested and after the show Niki spoke to most attendants personally and handed out his company cards and product folders to everybody present. There was quite some interest in the Fashion Goods, hats, shawls and fashion accessories.

The pictures made by Eszeth Fashion House will be displayed at the Royal Bhaktapur site soon.

Nowadays many people are wearing the so called Pashmina scarves or shawls. Even in as many shops, racks are full with these scarves. But how do you recognize a real Pashmina? What makes a real Pashmina so special? Read the article below and convince yourself buying a Pashmina scarf.

Pashmina or Cashmere wool is originated in the Himalayas in Asia. The mountain goats living here on altitude of 12,000ft-17,000ft produce these fine wool fibers. Depending on the altitude the goats will produce Cashmere or Pashmina wool. On the higher altitudes the finest the wool is being found. The best quality wool is taken from the belly of the goat. Fine wool insulates better than thick wool. You can compare this wearing several layers of clothing instead of one piece of heavy clothing.

The Cashmere and Pashmina wool from the Himalayas have since centuries found its way to customers, appreciating good quality of the finest woolen scarves as well as sweaters. For this high quality product a prize has to be paid.

Naturally a successful product is being copied. Pashmina scarves are usually found with their little tassels marking the finishing of the scarf. As for these tassels the product name for scarves `Pashmina` was chosen. Pashmina scarves were introduced to a wider public. Instead of these beautiful woolen and silk scarves the material was at first replaced by a lower quality wool and thereafter by cotton, viscose and even polyester.
So, if you want to wear a `Pashmina` scarf, there will be plenty of choice. These scarves are available in a variety of colors and materials. Usually the quality and its prize tell enough. One cannot expect a quality scarf for as less as € 10,00.

One has to take a real close look at a first class woolen Pashmina scarf.
It’s the quality of wool that makes the difference. A Pashmina woolen product is feather light, made from 100% Pashmina wool. Other Pashmina scarves are mixed with natural silk in order to obtain a shiny surface. These scarves are labeled as 70-30 Pashmina, rating the amount of 70% wool and 30% silk. These scarves are shinier, more over, adding silk increases its strength.

Some figures to illustrate this. A 100% pure woolen Pashmina scarf of 200 cm x 70 cm weighs about 200 grams. Furthermore a small Water Pashmina scarf of 150 cm x 30 cm weighs only 50 grams. You might forget wearing a scarf like this, as the weight is so little.
The quality is determined by the number of threads, the use of silk and natural dyeing colors.
Royal Bhaktapur delivers only first quality products. Our scarves are manufactured by small entrepreneurs only. We do not only select on handmade products, natural dyeing colors for the making of scarves, but take in consideration the working circumstances of the workers as well. We do not make use of child labor. This is being checked by us personally. Our motto is: a good product for a fair prize.

What you should take in mind when buying a real woolen Pashmina:
• Pashmina wool or Cashmere wool;
• The finest wool is Pashmina. The wool of three goats is needed to weave one scarf;
• A pure Pashmina scarf weighs about 200 grams. A same size Water Pashmina scarf 70-30 weights about 250 grams;
• The label on the scarf gives information about the place of manufacturing and consistence;
• Royal Bhaktapur delivers all her scarves with a product certificate. You can be sure you have a good product for a fair prize.

Why choosing for Pashmina scarves:
• A real Pashmina scarf differs from other scarves as for its high standing quality;
• The scarves are very smooth, fine woven and have beautiful natural colors;
• Several types of scarves, Jacquard with woven patterns, Water Pashmina with silk, 100% and 70-30% wool;
• A scarf for many occasions;
• Once you wear a real Pashmina and you do not want anything else.