From Wool to Wonder: How Hillyarn Uplifts Marginalized Women in Nepal

Artisans crafting wool-felted art. Credit: Hillyarn.

From its base in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Hillyarn crafts wool-felted pieces for wholesale buyers while creating training and dignified work opportunities for marginalized women. Their team includes single mothers and women from remote villages, some from communities historically impacted by Nepal’s caste system and social exclusion.

Hillyarn's artisans use traditional wet-felting and needle-felting techniques to turn natural wool into functional art, creating everything from wool cat caves to holiday ornaments for boutiques worldwide.

Handbags and coin purses. Credit: Hillyarn.

We spoke with Ashwini Kumar Pariyar, Hillyarn’s owner, to learn more about his business, which is built on a wholesale model that prioritizes sustainability, dignity and steady work for Nepali women artisans.

"I wish the world would pause and think about how these women manage to hold onto their creativity, focus and passion while balancing such massive life pressures. Every item is not just raw wool and skill; it is a profound human contribution born of hard work, emotional resilience and a mother's love to build a better future for her children. I wish people would truly value and respect that silent dedication." - Ashwini Kumar Pariyar

Tell us about Hillyarn. We breathe life into 100% natural, biodegradable New Zealand sheep wool. Our studio transforms raw wool into functional art that bridges Himalayan heritage with modern living. Our wholesale collection ranges from cozy, eco-friendly wool cat caves and organic laundry dryer balls to sustainably crafted home decor, kitchen accents, and whimsically detailed needle-felted seasonal ornaments.

Describe how artisans craft your products.

Our production process deeply honors traditional techniques. We rely entirely on time-tested wet felting using only pure water, organic soap and meticulous needle felting. Every single item is gently molded, pressed, and detailed by hand completely free from harsh chemical processing or synthetic finishes. What sets our approach apart is the professional synergy within our studio.

Artisans crafting wool-felted art. Credit: Hillyarn.

Led by the creative vision of our design director, a master felt artist, our network of over 25 talented local women artisans pours their heritage, precision and soul into every piece. We don't just manufacture goods. We craft unique, made-to-order stories of sustainability and empowerment that independent boutique owners and conscious retailers worldwide are proud to showcase.

How did you come to this work, and when did it shift from something you did for fun into a business? Our main export company was originally started back in 2010 in Pokhara by my parents. Coming from a community that historically faced severe social untouchability, our ancestral profession was traditional tailoring and playing national music, Panche Baja. My parents started this business to break boundaries and create a better future. Later, we shifted our business operations to Bhaktapur, and a few years ago, we added the wool felt business to our journey because of a deeply shared purpose.

Our biggest priority has always been to provide intensive skill training and dignified jobs to underprivileged women, including single mothers, those from remote rural villages and Indigenous Janajati communities who faced social untouchability or lacked opportunities. To support these artisans directly without middlemen, we are constantly working hard and striving to connect with direct international boutique clients.

What challenges did you face when building your business?

In the beginning, we tried selling our items to individual retail customers online. But managing single global shipments and small orders was very hard. It did not give steady, everyday work to our artisans. The real turning point happened when we secured and successfully delivered our first big bulk order for an international boutique shop. We realized that this wholesale model could bring consistent, year-round jobs and financial security to our network of over 25 local women artisans and their families. That success changed everything. We stopped retail sales and shifted entirely into a wholesale-only brand, proudly connecting our artisans' beautiful heritage and our deeply rooted family values with boutique owners around the world.

How does your work connect to a community, tradition or set of values you care about? At its core, our work is deeply connected to the values of human dignity, social justice and preserving traditional craftsmanship. We especially focus on helping women from marginalized backgrounds. This includes single mothers, underprivileged women who have migrated from remote rural villages and traditional sisters who have a background in tailoring and knitting but never got a fair opportunity until they mastered the art of wool felting with us. Many of them work comfortably right from their homes, allowing them to balance family care with earning an income.

By providing intensive skill-training and steady jobs, we help them become completely independent. We create a safe, supportive, and respectful environment where they can work freely and confidently. Today, our studio directly supports a network of over 25 local women artisans and their families.

We also care deeply about the earth. Our materials are strictly eco-friendly, using natural wool and AZO-free dyes to protect both nature and the health of our crafters. Through this business, we serve boutique owners in North America, Europe, and Japan who value ethical production. We want to change the industry by proving that an export business can be successful while directly uplifting disadvantaged lives, restoring respect for traditional skills, and honoring human values.

Felted ornaments and objects. Credit: Hillyarn.

What are you working on now? Right now, we are fully focused on an exciting project making custom needle-felting miniatures for a prestigious client in the United States. Our team is collaborating closely with this American boutique client to refine and bring these unique new designs to life. It is highly detailed work that requires great skill. What excites me the most right now is that this project is also allowing us to bring in and train new local sisters in our community. Sharing this advanced needle-felting skill with them and watching them learn is truly rewarding. Successfully fulfilling these premium custom orders for the U.S. market gives us confidence that our wholesale model is working and helps us create more year-round livelihoods for our growing artisan family.

What do you wish more people understood about running a creative business? I wish more people understood the immense patience, as well as the deep physical and mental strength, that goes into every single piece of handmade art. People see the beautiful, finished product, but they rarely understand the heavy responsibilities our artisans carry.

Most of these creators are women who are managing their entire households, raising children, and supporting their families under difficult circumstances. I wish the world would pause and think about how these women manage to hold onto their creativity, focus and passion while balancing such massive life pressures. Every item is not just raw wool and skill; it is a profound human contribution born of hard work, emotional resilience and a mother's love to build a better future for her children. I wish people would truly value and respect that silent dedication.

You can learn more about Hillyarn at https://hillyarn.com/.

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