Malati Didi is a home based wool spinner at Aatmiya. She transforms tangled threads into smooth balls of wool for the crocheting Didi. She works hard to provide for her two children and their education, balancing her time between cleaning brass figurines in temples and rolling yarn for Aatmiya. Malati Didi enjoys flexible, part-time work and takes pride in her hand-spun wool traveling the world.
Sanu Didi started crocheting at fifteen by making fashion items inspired by TV shows using handmade tools. She is a top earner at Aatmiya, known for her neat lines and speed. She is supported by her family, allowing her to focus on orders and earn more during peak season. Sanu didi loves creating crochet items for her young daughter and values the flexibility of her work, which allows her to balance family life and financial independence.
Kalawati Didi, is a skilled artisan and is known among the group of outsourced pool Didi’s for her clean hand. She began crocheting at thirteen, using homemade hooks fashioned from an old umbrella. Today, she is a valued member of Aatmiya, proudly balancing her work with family life and supporting her son's education in London. Her journey reflects resilience, resourcefulness, and a deep commitment to her art and family.
Mina is known for her very quirky sense of humour which never fails to make everyone laugh. In the future, she wishes to increase her knitting skills by training in modern pattern-making and knitting by charts and graphs.
When Chandra came to us she was trying to secure a scholarship for her son’s education. Not only did she help her son receive a scholarship, but she also secured a job at the women’s center for her knitting skills. In the future Chandra would like to open her own knitting and training center where she can employ and empower women from her community.
For a woman who has never been to school and does not know how to read or write, Krishna Maya’s daughters are pursuing their Bachelor in Education, high school, and class 10 respectively. She believes strongly in the value of education and says she would never compromise on her daughter’s education and future.
Manu's determination to learn and her passion for knitting amazes us. She says she has never received any formal training. When she was a teenager, she used to graze cattle in her village. She did not have enough money to buy knitting needles so she decided to trim and shave bamboo sticks to make needles.
Located in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aatmiya is a social enterprise that provides more work to more women by leveraging the knitting skills of over 200 women to create quality, ethically sourced, craft goods.
