Maker Spotlight

Learn More about Sadle Traders

Located in Bhaktapur, Sadle creates environmentally sustainable products from materials such as hemp, no kill leather and recycled rubber inner tubes. It was founded in 1984 and currently works with 30 jewelers and tailors. Sadle is the oldest and largest exporter in Nepal and works to source all of it’s raw materials from Nepal, which in turn, supports the local economy. This producer group is very committed to breaking down caste barriers and religious differences between employees, so that everyone is treated equally, the working environment is harmonious, and every individual is well paid.

Denise Attwood with manager in Nepal, Chunta Nepali

OUR VALUES

At the heart of Ganesh Himal Trading is long term partnerships that empower each partner. We are committed to respectful and long term partnerships with:

the families, businesses, and projects that we partnered with over 30 years, prioritizing them by securing their work before adding new producer groups,
Our staff in Spokane and in Nepal providing work that enhances their security, growth, and well-being,
Our retail partners, many of whom have been customers for over twenty years,
Our planet, which gives without question and deserves the same care in return,
We believe that building long-lasting relationships based on trust, dialogue and mutual respect is key to community building and helps move us toward a more equitable future.

Our partnerships are grounded in reciprocity. We work diligently to establish mutually beneficial relationships with our producers in Nepal by encouraging a balanced level of give and take. We work directly with producers as a team, expanding each other’s talents and ideas. We believe everyone’s insight and perspective is needed to create systems that address the changing nature of our world.

We love this part of our product development. Over 80% of our designs are created by our artisans. We may choose color stories to follow - but even then, most of our color stories fit within the Caribbean heritage of Haiti. Metal artisans we work with offer us culturally appropriate pieces that are significant to the history and artistic culture of Haiti.

Metal Haitian Artisans

— Metal Haitian Artisans

Makilene walked for days looking for an orphanage. She had four children that she couldn’t feed and a baby in her arms. The father of her children had recently died and she was at her wits end. She had nothing left to give her children. She had heard of a place that helped children and thinking that it was an orphanage, she showed up at our gate. Papillon provided shelter for her family for a year through our non-profit arm (Papillon Empowerment) and brought Makilene in as a paid apprentice jewelry maker. Over the next few years, she was able to master her craft, save money, buy land, get her kids all enrolled in school and has managed to gain 50 pounds (a great sign in a place like Haiti). She is an example of how the opportunity for steady and fair work can change a life, keep a family intact and bring hope to the next generation. She is an example of why we do what we do. Orphan Prevention through Job Creation.

Artisan Story - “Makilene”

— Artisan Story - “Makilene”