What do you hope to reach with KHN Dyes?
"The people who live in Kakani, especially women, they are all involved in this venture and help to produce natural dyeing products. I hope that Nepalese people will wear more own Nepali products with natural dyes. The more we sell, the more women will work together, and more women will earn money. Whatever the women earn from this venture, they spend on their children's education, and in their household.
Even though it is the 21st Century, so many women in Nepal are still not working. We want to allow them to do something useful and earn some money."

Why do you think it is essential that women have work?
Women need to work. We should not be begging our husbands, to ask for money to buy something, to go shopping. Women need to work to earn money, so they can be independent and spend their own money on things for themselves. This is really important.

What does Women Empowerment mean to you? And how does Kakani support women?
KHND supports women in three different ways. KHN Dyes supports women in ways of empowerment, considering health and education. We need to educate women, to learn about health. If we want to secure our health, we have to earn money. Any kind of work, but we have to work, and have to be independent.

Around 4-5 years ago, Shanti her health became worse when she fell sick and had to stay in the hospital. At that time, Sara Shakya, daughter of Shanti, had to take over the business to continue the work, suddenly.

Sara didn't have any training before that and had to learn quickly, as she had to take over the entire business. She managed to teach herself by the notes she found in her mother's office.  

When Shanti returned after being in the hospital, Sara received a proper, but informal training from her mother. Sara used to look after the workshop, the dye, and was working like "an all-rounder." Sara her dream had always been to be a designer, as she had been interested in color combinations and creating different patterns. "Here, I can work like that, experimenting, creating different color combinations and different patterns in our tie-dye designs. It's great to be able to do this while working together with my mother."

At the start, there were only a few color tones. Then Sara started to mix different colors and ingredients. "It was so much trial and error, the creation of new colors. With that process and that error, I get another color. So I wrote everything down, to know what the exact recipe is from the new color. Natural dyeing takes a lot of patience because of the experimenting."

"We use different pots with the ingredients, to create a particular color. This is the main secret in the natural dyeing process. Pots made out of ion or copper create a different reaction with the various raw materials."

"We are using waste materials from the forest, like the waste of rhododendron flower, the skin of an onion, skin of the pomegranate, madder, turmeric, rhubarb, red cutch. To fix the color better to fabric, and protect it from staining, we use alum, which is also a natural ingredient. "

How is it to work together in one business as mother and daughter?
"It's fun and easy. Working as a mother and daughter together, we support each other. We communicate adequately, and we complement each other well. I'm lucky to be able to work together with my mother."

How do you see the future of KHN Dyes?
"I see a good future. More people nowadays are interested in natural dyes. Nowadays, people are more aware of the importance of natural dyeing, and the importance of women empowerment, sustainability and slow fashion."

How would you describe KHN Dyes in one word?
While having a big smile on her face, Sara responds: "It would say, it is my future.. my future lies here."

Namaste! My name is Muna Tamang. I am 23 years old. I have three people in my family, my son and my husband, including me. My son goes to school and is three years old.

Do you have anyone else in your family?
No, we don't have. Previously, we used to stay in a joint family, but for three months, we have separated from this.

Can you walk me through your day starting when you get up in the morning? How have you been managing your time as a working lady?
I wake up at 6 am. I go to fetch water and then prepare food. I let my children have food and then send them to school. Sometimes when I have time, I work in my kitchen garden. I have my lunch and then come to work.

What is the hardest part of the day?
I find it tough to work in the field.

What is your favorite part of the day?
I think it is quite fun and easy to work together with my colleagues here.
In comparison to my past, I am quite happy now. When I used to live with my in-laws, I didn't even have time to comb my hair. I am so glad to make my living my self-earning.

At what age did you get married?
I got married at the age of 18.

Do you think life has been easy as you got married earlier at that age? What is your suggestion to other sisters?
When we were just married, it felt good. But when my husband started going out for work, my in-laws would make me work a lot. I think getting married early results in this, which I wasn't aware of back then. I suggest other sisters also not to get married early. Even if you are willing to, it is better if you think twice and be self-reliant before getting married.

What do you think is your biggest strength?
I really don't like to be angry at other people, rather have my smiley face always. When I aim at doing something, I get it done on my own.

Since all of you are Tamang in this community, what is your or people's thought on the female population working outside their homes? Do you think they should be doing it or should stop working out of home?
I believe it is only in people's sayings, but it's all females who are support and guidance to male. I don't think anything is possible without females. I think females have played a vital role in society. For me, females are moving ahead in society.

What difference do you find among the women in the village and Kathmandu?
I think women in the villages have faced a lot of tougher times and have the courage to fight against it. Women seem to be doing all sorts of work, whatever comes their way. People in the city act as they are better than others. Their attitude sounds as if they are best, and no one can compete with them. They think that people are villages are dirty and do not maintain their hygiene.

In a word, can you tell us something about this work?
Since I have joined in this work, I have been able to solve a lot of problems. I have my own family now, and I have been able to support my son's educations along with food supplies through this income.

What is society's feedback on your work? What do your neighbors tell you about the work? Do they think it has supported your life, or do they ask you not to go to work?
Since I have been working, society thinks good about me. Before, when I had just joined, my mother-in-law used to tell me to work more in the field rather than here. But I always felt welcome and enjoyed being with my colleagues and working here. I was also able to meet my family's needs through the income here.

What is the difference in income that you make from here versus the income from your fieldwork?
Income wise, there isn't much difference. But to work in the field is tough, whereas here it is comparatively easy.

Thank you! Namaste!