The mountains surrounding Kathmandu are home to a caste of Sarki people who depend heavily on the production of leather for their main source of income. As cows are traditionally sacred in Hindu Nepal the leather generally comes from animals that have died naturally.
The industry has faced a number of challenges in recent times including a rise in the availability of cheap factory leather & devastation from the 2015 earthquake.
The WMT have supported village leather though our Nepali partners, who teach design skills to leather workers, and by raising funds to help with the rebuild following the earthquake.
Sindhukot - Leather Village
The village of Sindhukot is located in the mountains, North East of Kathmandu and is home to a caste of Sarki people who depend heavily on the production of leather as their main source of income.
The area was severely impacted during the earthquake in 2015. The majority of the homes in the village were destroyed and the leather tanning pits severely damaged.
To support the leather workers the WMT held a Cheese & Wine tasting event to raise funds and awareness of the issues in Sindhukot.
We are please to announce that the infrastructure has been rebuilt and the leather industry has re-established in the village.
making traditional leather
Dhario is a local herb that is integral to the process
Leather is cured using herbs in lime pits
Impurities are scrapped away by hand
Raw hide is dried before it is ready for collection
Deepak Phaeli’s - Leather Bags
Based in a small village called Dhapakhel near Kathmandu, Deepak is a designer who run his business using village leather. He creates bags from colourful Nepali cloth and leather, selling them to a wholesaler in Kathmandu.
