Nepal is a country full of beautiful old traditions and culture, with high-end shopping and traditional crafts evident in the clothes people wear and the things they make. From the busy streets of Kathmandu to quiet mountain villages, Nepal has both old-style crafts and new fancy things to buy. Let’s look at Nepali fashion, expensive shopping and traditional crafts, and the beautiful old crafts that make Nepal special.
Old Nepali Clothes
To understand Nepali fashion, we need to know about old clothes. Nepali old clothes are colorful, comfy, and mean a lot to people. Women often wear a long shirt over loose pants. This is called a kurta suruwal. For special times, they might wear a saree. A saree is a long piece of cloth wrapped around the body. Some women also wear a gunyu cholo, which is a blouse and wrapped skirt.
Men usually wear a daura suruwal. This is a long shirt with fitted pants. They often wear this with a dhaka topi, which is a special cap. People still wear these clothes today, especially for big parties and special days. They make these clothes with different fabrics. They use cotton for everyday clothes and silk for fancy times.
These old clothes show Nepal’s history. Each piece has a special meaning. The colors and patterns can tell you about a person’s family or where they’re from. Even though Nepal is changing, many people still love to wear these old clothes. They wear them to weddings, festivals, and other important events.
New Nepali Fashion
Today, Nepali fashion mixes old styles with new ideas. Many Nepali clothes makers are creating outfits that blend Western looks with old Nepali styles. Young people in big cities like Kathmandu really like this mix of old and new. You might see people wearing new-style long shirts with jeans. Some wear Western dresses made with old Nepali patterns. People also wear old-style Nepali jewelry with new clothes.
Designers are doing exciting things with old fabrics. They use dhaka, a special Nepali fabric, to make modern jackets and dresses. Some are using pashmina, a very soft wool, in new ways. They’re making it into trendy scarves and shawls that people all over the world like.
Many young Nepali people want to look modern but also show their Nepali roots. This is why fusion fashion is so popular. A fusion outfit might be a Western-style dress made with traditional Nepali fabric. Or it could be a modern suit with a traditional Nepali pattern.
Fancy Shopping in Nepal
You might not think of Nepal when you think about fancy shopping. But the big city, Kathmandu, has more and more expensive stores. There’s a street called Durbarmarg, also known as Kings Way. This is where you can find fancy shops.It’s like a small version of famous shopping and traditional crafts streets in big cities. Here, you can find stores selling brands from other countries. There are also fancy Nepali shops with designer clothes.
Kathmandu now has some big, modern shopping centers too. Places like Labim Mall and Civil Mall have stores selling expensive clothes. They also have fancy electronic shops and nice restaurants. Even in Thamel, a place known for backpacker shops, you can find some high-end stores. These sell designer Nepali clothes and fancy crafts.
Another interesting place for fancy shopping is Baber Mahal Revisited. This is an old palace that they turned into a shopping and traditional crafts. Here, you can find very nice Nepali fashion shops. There are also art galleries and fancy restaurants. Shopping here feels like stepping back in time, but with modern, expensive things to buy.
Nepali Fashion Designers
Nepal has many talented fashion designers. They are becoming famous in Nepal and around the world. One very famous designer is Prabal Gurung. He grew up in Nepal but now works in New York. Very important people like Michelle Obama wear his clothes. His designs mix Nepali ideas with modern styles.
Other famous Nepali designers are doing great things too. Tenzin Tseten Bhutia makes clothes that blend old Tibetan and Nepali styles with modern designs. Sabyata Gurung has a brand called Sabyta. She focuses on making clothes in ways that are good for the earth. Anita Ghimire makes modern clothes inspired by old Nepali fabrics.
These designers often have their own shops in Kathmandu. Some also sell their clothes in fancy stores in other countries. They’re helping to show the world how beautiful and special Nepali fashion can be.
Old Nepali Crafts
Nepal is famous for things people make by hand. Many of these shopping and traditional crafts are used for clothes and house decorations. One of the most famous is pashmina. This is a very soft, warm fabric made from the fur of mountain goats. People use it to make shawls and scarves. Good pashmina is very expensive and people all over the world like it.
Another important craft is dhaka weaving. This is a type of cotton fabric with colorful patterns. People used to use it mostly for caps and scarves. Now, clothes makers use it for dresses and jackets too. The patterns in dhaka cloth often have special meanings.
Nepal is also known for other beautiful crafts. They make detailed paintings called thangkas. These often show Buddhist stories and can take months to finish. Nepali people are also very good at metal crafts. They make beautiful things from bronze, copper, and brass. This includes jewelry, statues, and things for the home.
Wood carving is another famous Nepali craft. Artists make intricate designs on wood. This is used for furniture, windows, and decorative items. The windows in the old city of Kathmandu are especially beautiful. Nepal also makes high-quality carpets. These are often made in the Tibetan style. They use wool and have bright colors and bold designs. Good Nepali carpets are famous around the world and can be very expensive.
All these crafts take a lot of skill and time to make. The best ones can cost a lot of money. But they’re also very special because each one is made by hand and carries part of Nepal’s culture.
Buying Fancy Crafts
If you want to buy expensive, old-style crafts, there are special shops in Nepal. The Taragaon Museum Shop is one place. They sell carefully chosen, high-quality shopping and traditional crafts. They focus on helping local artists and selling items that are made fairly.
Another good place is Kar.Ma Coffee. This is a fair trade store that sells fancy handicrafts. You can buy expensive pashmina here. They also have nice pottery and things made from handmade paper.
There are other shops too, like Dhukuti and Mahaguthi. These places sell a wide range of high-quality crafts. They work hard to keep old craft skills alive and help the people who make these things.
One more place to check out is Sana Hastakala. They specialize in expensive, handmade products. Here, you can find everything from fancy pashmina to beautiful metal work.
In these shops, you’re not just buying pretty things. You’re also helping to keep old skills alive and supporting Nepali artists.
Clothes and Crafts Made in a Good Way
Many fancy clothes makers and craft producers in Nepal care about being good to nature and to workers. They use natural materials from nearby places. They pay the people who make crafts fairly. They try not to harm nature when they make things.
These companies also work hard to keep old craft skills alive. They teach young people how to do these crafts. This way, the skills won’t be forgotten.
When you buy something fancy in Nepal, you’re often supporting these good practices. For example, some companies use only natural dyes for their fabrics. Others make sure the wool for carpets comes from sheep that are treated well.
Even big designers like Prabal Gurung are thinking about this. He tries to make his clothes in ways that don’t harm the earth. He also works with craftspeople in Nepal to make some of his designs.
Big Fashion Events
Nepal has some big fashion events every year. The biggest is Nepal Fashion Week. This happens once a year in Kathmandu. Here, you can see clothes from famous Nepali designers. You can also see work from new designers just starting out. They show both old-style and new-style fashion.
There’s another event called TGIF Fashion Week. This one focuses on new talent in Nepali fashion. It’s a great place to see fresh ideas and upcoming designers.
Nepal also has a Crafts Festival every year. This is where you can see and buy some of the best handmade items from Nepal. It’s a great place to find high-quality traditional crafts.
These events are exciting for people who love fashion and crafts. They show how Nepali style is changing and growing. They’re also a good chance for designers and craft makers to show their work to more people.
Tips for Fancy Shopping in Nepal
If you want to go fancy shopping in Nepal, here are some helpful tips:
- Always check things carefully to make sure they’re good quality. For things like pashmina, there are special ways to check if it’s real.
- In some shops, you can try to get a lower price. But in shops with fixed prices, you usually can’t do this.
- Be careful to buy designer items only from real stores.
- This way, you won’t get fake goods. Remember to check what you’re allowed to bring back to your country. Some countries have rules about bringing in certain items.
- If you care about buying things made in a good way, ask how they were made and who made them. Many shops will be happy to tell you.
- The best time for shopping is during big festivals like Dashain or Tihar. Many stores have special low prices at these times.
The Future of Nepali Fashion and Crafts
Nepali fashion and crafts are changing in exciting ways. People are working hard to keep old skills alive. But they’re also trying new things.
Clothes designers are finding new ways to use old fabrics and patterns. They’re making modern clothes that still feel Nepali. Craft makers are using their skills to make new kinds of products. For example, some are using traditional metal-working skills to make modern jewelry.
More and more, people in Nepal are thinking about making things in ways that are good for people and the earth. They’re using natural materials and trying not to waste things. This is making Nepali products popular with people who care about buying things made in good ways.
The mix of old and new in Nepali fashion and crafts is special. It’s making these things popular in Nepal and around the world. More people are learning about how beautiful Nepali designs can be.