Knitters

Knitting and weaving has played an integral role in Nepalese society since traders began selling woven shawls to the small kingdoms scattered throughout the Himalayas during the 2nd century AD. Primarily hailing from Nepal’s southern plains, MONK’s knitters have migrated to the Patan district of the Kathmandu Valley to continue their craft. Taking pride in the quality of their work MONK’s artisans participate in an apprenticeship program which trains and empowers new generations of knitters who we hope to make part of MONK’s story for years to come.

Detailers

Home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites built over 1,500 years, the Kathmandu Valley knows no shortage of wood and stone craftsmen. MONK’s admiration for the unique monuments these craftsmen built drove a desire to incorporate their intricate work into our knitwear. MONK has partnered with a subset of these artisans to produce all the hand-made wooden details seen on our garments and packaging.

Packagers

The earliest surviving Nepalese paper - known as Lokta - appears in the form of the sacred Buddhist texts and retains a textured artisanal finish. MONK’s respect for these qualities led to a partnership with local craftsmen who specialize in making intricate boxes out of multiple layers of paper. MONK considers the time and care put into this packaging as a worthy testament to the fine cashmere knits they carry.

Partners

MONK has partnered with the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT) whose mission is to “safeguard the extraordinary and threatened architectural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley”. A perfect match for a brand that owes so much to a single region, KVPT commissions local craftsmen to restore Kathmandu’s unique heritage. In particular, KVPT has risen to the astronomical challenge presented to Nepal on April 25, 2015 when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed over 8,500 people and destroyed multiple UNESCO heritage sites.