Know Your Knitter

We believe that an essential part of supply chain transparency is knowing who has made the clothes you wear. Owning our own production facility in Kathmandu, Nepal allows
DINADI to provide an unprecedented degree of openness and transparency. Every hand-knitted product made at DINADI includes the name of the maker on the product label
and the maker’s picture on the paper hangtag. We believe the makers of our garments deserve to be celebrated which is why we’re proud to introduce you to all the amazing
people who work for DINADI.

Amrita is a dedicated mother who loves to spend time with her family, especially if there is a picnic involved. She is outgoing and determined, making the best of everything that life sends her way. In her work, she is a team player who brings joy to every task she puts her mind to.
Babita is the type of person that always has a smile on her face. She loves to dance and loves to display her dancing talents on TikTok. She also loves to spend time with her family and approaches her role as a mother with enthusiasm and dedication. She is smart and quick to learn, qualities that are very helpful in her work.
Bijaya doesn’t just laugh, she dissolves into laughter leading everyone else to join her. Full of life she is always spreading joy to people around her with her funny stories and big hugs. And she’s an amazing cook!
Bimala is the proud mother of two daughters and her dedication to them is clearly evident when you see them together. She meets life head on with enthusiasm and always with a smile on her face. In her work she is smart and a quick to learn and appreciated by everyone around her.
It’s always easy to pick out Bimala in a crowd because she loves to dress colourfully. She also loves to dance and one of her favourite pastimes is making TikTok videos that are appreciated by all around her. At work she is always cheerful and helpful and brings a fun atmosphere wherever she is.
Charlotte, the Dutch addition to our team, fills many Dutch stereotypes. She’s not only super efficient and hardworking but she even comes from a tulip farm. Her creativity and curiosity combined with her quick smile and laugh make her a joy to be around.
Some people love to knit and then there is Chhori who really loves to knit! She is cheerful and hardworking and is always looking for feedback so that she can become better at her work. Mistakes are seen as a chance to learn, not something to hide. Chhori is also very open and willing to share what’s on her heart which encourages others around her to open up as well.
Chinu considers the women at DINADI her second family. Here, she finds support to face her personal health issues. Knitting allows to be a good worker while getting the rest she needs. She aspires to own her own home and become a leader within the DINADI community.
Durga became a widow when her daughter was a year old. Her husband came home from working abroad, and the next day, died in his sleep. Fourteen years later, widowhood has caused her to learn independence and the value of good friends. She works hard to support her daughter and hopes to someday find a good son-in-law.
Elisha is a student who loves to sing and bake cakes. Through her work with DINADI, she has seen how small steps can lead to growth and success. This has inspired her knitting, her studying, and her dream of opening a business someday.
Ganga prides herself on taking care of her family well. She has two teenagers, and loves to cook for and spend time with them. Her husband’s health has been a concern, and she feels thankful to be able to earn an income for his treatment and her kids’ schooling.
Geeta’s children are mostly grown but she still spends her days at home caring for her paralyzed husband. As the sole breadwinner and caregiver, the opportunity to work at home has saved her family. She has found within herself boldness and strength as she’s met the challenges of life.
Ishak is DINADI’s general manager and runs our office in Kathmandu, Nepal. Ishak is an inspiration to us all in the way he always approaches life with a smile and a positive attitude. His natural leadership abilities have endeared him to our office staff and knitters alike. Ishak always has time to talk and aways has a few wise words share, usually accompanied with a drawing to illustrate his point.
Ishwori was three years old when her father left her mother. As an adult, she aspires to nothing more than being an honest person and a good daughter, as she and her mom take care of each other. Knitting helps her provide, and someday, she hopes to start a small grocery store.
Jaya dreams of owning gold. In her community, wearing gold jewelry is an important symbol of respect and hard work. She is working hard to ensure health and an education for her son, and because of her knitting, she will soon reward herself with a wearable symbol of all that she’s accomplishing.
Jog Maya is hardworking and helpful. Her family has recently been able to move out of the post-earthquake shelter in which they’d been staying. She continues to care for her sick husband as she knits and dreams of a good education and good marriages for her son and daughter.
Kalpana is well-liked among her friends and a mother of two young adult sons. As a single mother, she has worked hard to provide for them as they’ve grown. She is glad to now be knitting with friends and dreaming of financial stability and further education for her sons.
Liva loves to make people laugh. She enjoys crocheting and has a heart for those around her dealing with poverty. Her work is allowing her to save up for future study to become a social worker.
Liza is an outgoing and caring member of DINADI. She studies management in college and dreams of running a business someday. She has enjoyed learning to knit and making new friends through her work.
Maily is polite and sensitive, but confident. She feels content and connected in her family. Knitting for DINADI means that she has a family to learn with, and the skills to earn with. She dreams of becoming a principal and opening her own bakery someday.
Maina is a hard worker who finds her drive in her family of three. She is recognized by her big smile and generous laugh. Her family used to be completely dependent on her husband’s income but now her extra income is allowing Maina to dream and plan for her son’s education.
Manju works in the DINADI office within quality control. She has a quick eye for details and always has good ideas on how to solve issues. Manju is the type of person that everyone feels safe and comfortable with. She is kind, quick to smile and has a witty sense of humour that brings much laughter to our office.
Manjila describes herself as funny and easy to be around. Her work provides an enjoyable community of friends with whom she can learn and practice new skills. She dreams of traveling to Paris someday.
With the closing of their photo studio due to Covid-19, Man Kumari’s family is struggling to make ends meet. She stays busy taking care of her family, as well as knitting. A job with DINADI allows her to continue pursuing a good education for her son, in the midst of financial hardship.
Mirjam is the Swedish contribution to the team – always seen with bright red lipstick, the biggest rings she can find, and a set of knitting needles in her hands. Always ready to entertain with a good story or to discuss a knitting project.
 Pawana is DINADI’s social worker. Her job is to look after the well-being of DINADI’s knitters which she does with passion and compassion. Pawana leads knit groups in the office and regularly visits knitters in their homes. She has a special ability to connect with people on a heart level and works tirelessly to care for the needs of those around her.⁠
Pramilla desires to model for her three kids what being an excellent worker looks like, and she does so with energy and exuberance. Taking on more than just housework and laundry has given her a newfound confidence. She has found life–and spreads it as well–in her work at DINADI.
Preston, the Canadian addition to the team, is the connoisseur in the lot – with a big heart for gadgets and a good BBQ. Known as the ‘hairy man’ by locals he is always helpful, cheerful and on the run to get something done.
Priscilla has an entrepreneurial spirit. She loves to learn and try new things, and wishes to start a tailoring or knitting business of her own some day. She’s just completed college, and is marrying soon. DINADI has given her the skills and support to step into a bright future.
Rabina has grown up in a girls home, but is marrying soon. Her work with DINADI has given her a community of women with whom to grow, a trustworthy source of income, and a hope for her future. She would like to open her own tailoring shop someday.
Rajiv has an eye for all things that involves numbers or technical skill and that’s why he’s our accountant. Known to be cheerful, helpful, good at cooking, and has knowledge about pretty much anything.
Growing up in a messed-up past family situation, Sabina now finds contentment in the closeness of her husband, daughter, and son. She enjoys cooking for them and hopes for a good education for her children. DINADI is significant to her, as a place she can work, earn, and share her feelings.
Sabina M. is courageous and confident. She spends her time cooking and caring for her husband and in-laws with whom she lives. She is knitting toward financial stability for their home, and hopes for further growth in DINADI and further study toward fashion design.
Despite an absent husband and a recently-found breast tumor, Sabina is hard-working and motivated. She owns a beauty parlour, and wants to continue to grow in her knitting. She is motivated to own her own home, and to see success for her son and his future family.
Despite a lack of family support, and a boyfriend working overseas, Saloni is overcoming these obstacles by learning skills and earning money through her knitting. With DINADI, she has found an understanding family atmosphere and the ability to dream of one day helping the village from which she came.
Sanudevi stays busy with cleaning, cooking, working at the farm and her knitting work. In the midst of financial uncertainty, her knitting provides a stable source of income for her family. She longs for a good education for her children and a home to call their own. Her DINADI coworkers are like a second family.
Sarita is DINADI’s production manager in Nepal. Sarita is a smart, confident and hard working. Her ability to keep many balls in the air at the same time as she runs production is a sight to behold. In her free time Sarita loves to knit, read books, watch movies and
Sarita learned responsibility early as she was only a teenager when her parents died and she was left to care for her five younger siblings. Today, she cares for here grown son by knitting. She’s saving up money to open her own tea shop.
Sarswoti loves to care for her garden and loves cooking food. Her food is always a highlight at our DINADI potlucks where she is appreciated not only for her cooking but also for her big smile. She is a dedicated mother to three children and as a social worker is very actively involved in her community.
Shova is willing and helpful, and is motivated by fulfilling work and growth within the DINADI family. She love to read and spend time with her family, and desires financial stability and a good future for her daughter and son.
Sirina may lack emotional support in her family, but she finds it in her knitting community. There, she feels capable and worthy, and finds hope in the progress of her work. She desires to continue working hard and making money so she can provide for and educate her daughters.

Sunita is confident and courageous and enjoys helping others. Knitting helps provide a platform for her to both work and learn new things. She works very hard to provide for her son and dreams of a good education for him.
As the sole breadwinner in her family, Sunita feels the weight of a big loan and sole financial responsibility for her family. Her knitting gives her hope and a sense of purpose, as she works toward success with the support of her relatives and the DINADI community.