I try to find the local vendors, rather than going to a big company, where they manufacture the textiles. I go to small local shops, small weavers who produce in a very limited quantity. I buy the material directly off of them, and if I want to order, then I order a small quantity from them.

I'm against mass production and fast fashion. The process is slow. I get my fabrics from local vendors who make in very small badges, and they are not very much profit-oriented. The local vendors have been in the business for 40-50 years, and they just want to sustain the business rather than just making money out of it. Supporting local people.
I'm contributing to the economy of my own country as well in a small way.

Sustainable fashion is so important, as we all know global warming is real, earth temperature is rising so much. Natural disasters are happening all over the world. We need to address this and be a responsible citizen of the world, not just the country. Try to embrace the smallest acts of sustainability in your individual lives. For example, switching off the lights when not in use, try not to use plastic bags and use reusable tote bags, or get bamboo or steel straws. A big problem is the fashion industry, which is the second biggest polluter in the world in terms of global warming. Many clothes are manufactured in a very fast manner. In one year, brands have six or seven collections launching. They are produced in such a massive process, and they are not concerned about how it will affect the environment. They keep piling up. You buy the product, you wear it, and you throw it away. For that fabric to decompose, it takes 20, 30 years, up to even 100 years to decompose. It is pretty bad for the environment. We can't keep doing it; otherwise, in the near future, nothing will be left for our children or future generation.
For our future and to better ourselves, we need to apply sustainability to our individual lives, even though it might not be big, but start with the small changes and slowly get used to it, and you will be more accepting toward it.

As a designer, I had the same problem when I started with fashion. It was more about making very fashionable, on-trend, designer clothes, coming up with new ideas, rather than spending so much time in creativity.

"To my experience, ambitious women are not accepted that much in Nepal. Although we are living in the 21st century, Nepali society is still very traditional, and cultural visions are sometimes narrow. Nepali people have a beautiful heart, and they will come to accept it and will accept stronger and more independent women.
The recent years, I received very positive feedback from media and people around us, supporting independent women, doing something.
I think the future is very bright for Nepali women."

I'm very contrasting to many Nepali women. I've had the opportunity that my family supported my career. I managed to go out and study Fashion Design. I'm quite privileged that I was able to study and do this.

During her younger years, Meena stayed in a boarding school in Gorkha. Together with the other girls, they shared a small garden and learned to grow their own vegetables. "I think it gave more of my roots, and was more connected to the earth, because of that," Meena says. During the civil war, Meena had to change schools a lot because of the bombing by Maoists.
"Coping with so many changes during an early age has made me a stronger person and able to connect with everyone else.
Meena finished her IELS and applied for her studies abroad. She studied a bachelor in Fashion Design in Dublin, Ireland.
When she returned to Kathmandu, she worked in various places to get more experience. One of these places was a printmaking company, where she took more experience in lithography or printmaking.
For many years Meena had been dreaming of starting Bora Studio, her own brand, and company, with her own personality and ethics. Her parents were against it and recommended her to search for other jobs. They didn't think it would work out. Because she was quite young still and hesitant to carry financial responsibility by herself, she started with two other designers. After a short time, with good results, all three went their own way, and Meena continued by herself with Bora Studio. By that time, seeing the brand was more successful, her father became more supportive of her work.

Meena describes herself as not being scared to try new things. "I don't take other people's criticism too deeply or personally. It's ok if other people don't like something. As long as I like doing it, it doesn't matter what other people say." "I'm very stubborn," Meena says while laughing, "I think this stubbornness is a strength... and I might need to add persistent and hardworking."