Nepali Women Build Businesses With Crafts

Why this is here: Nepal Knotcraft Centre now collaborates with over 150 women artisans throughout the country, a network that began with a single order for 400 macramé owls in the late 1990s.

Across Nepal, women are transforming traditional handicraft work into income and formally registered businesses. For years, women created artistic products within their homes, often without recognizing the economic potential of their skills. Shyam Badan Shrestha of Nepal Knotcraft Centre encountered this firsthand in 2003, discovering a weaver unaware her work held monetary value.

Recently, more women have entered the handicraft sector, now comprising roughly 40 percent of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal’s 4,500 members. This growth is largely within the category of micro-entrepreneurs launching small businesses. While progress is being made, Rabindra Shakya notes some men still take credit for women’s artistic contributions, and the government’s estimate of 300,000 female artisans likely underestimates the true number—possibly reaching one million.

Shakya’s federation is working to address these inequalities by revising policies and recognizing women’s artistry, regardless of formal education. Women like Sunita Chaudhary and Maya Guru are now receiving national awards for their work, signaling a shift in recognition. The work to fully identify and support female artisans continues.