Meet Swarti, one of Schalmauer's artisans

The mood of this season should be one of Joy. However, all the news of the last weeks - violence, gun shootings, terrorist attacks, and the list goes on - has greatly overshadowed the season’s spirit. It is difficult not to get caught up, angered or simply saddened by these tragic events that are happening in the different corners of the world, however, if there is one thing these crises teach us, it is that while we may have no control over these unexpected events, we can control how we react to them. At Schalmauer, we choose to react with the simple gestures of giving and helping those less fortunate, while embracing this season at its fullest….because for us it is a reminder of the important and pure things in the world - love, happiness, warmth and family. This is our belief at Schalmauer and we are proud to reflect this in our business model.

Almost 13% of the world’s population still live at or below US$1.90 per day. Ideally, we would like to reach people in need all around the world. But we know that this is not possible. Instead, we currently focus our development efforts on Nepal, where our pashmina scarves are produced. Nepal, one of the poorest countries in Asia, has a poverty prevalence of close to 24%, where nearly one in four people are living below the poverty line. It is also estimated that the massive earthquake that hit Kathmandu earlier this year, which killed thousands of people and devastated the country, has pushed a further one million people into poverty. It is therefore now more important than ever to support the country in its development efforts. Currently, 35 artisans are producing your Schalmauer scarves and, you our customers and Ambassadors, are providing them with opportunities to create a better life for themselves and their families. Swarti (20) is one of those artisans, named after the God of Starting. Originally from the Nuakot District, she left her village for Kathmandu three years ago, seeking opportunities to create a better life for herself. Swarti is one of the privileged women, as she can read and write and has graduated from high school. She works in the dyeing section of the factory, a very labour intensive task involving measuring colours, and dyeing each scarf by hand. “I dream of opening my own business and discovering new colours for pashmina scarves” she told us. With every Schalmauer scarf you buy, it is artisans like Swarti that you are supporting.

So this season, as you are looking for the perfect gift to buy, why not get into the real spirit of the holidays and get the perfect gift that gives. By doing so, you would not only be spoiling that special someone with a beautiful handmade scarf, but also helping our artisans to create a better life for themselves and their families. There is no better time than the present to start making a difference.