NEPALI pashmina manufacturers have been trying to revive their flagging business by introducing a slew of fresh designs. Traders are hopeful that the new products will boost exports. Nepal’s pashmina industry has been going through a bad patch for the last few years. According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), exports shrank to Rs 1.81 billion in 2008-09 from Rs 5.26 billion in 2000-01. Even though the registration of the collective trademark Chyangra Pashmina in international markets had helped to increase sales in the beginning, shipments have started to drop in recent months. As per the TEPC, export revenues for the first 11 months of 2012-13 were down 6.8 percent year on year. The country exported pashmina worth Rs 1.73 billion during the period. Shawls, stoles and scarves are among the popular Nepali pashmina products among importers. According to the TEPC, 36 x 80 in pashmina shawls and 18 x 78 in scarves are the fastest selling products. Traders said that they had been witnessing demand for diverse pashmina products in recent days. “Apart from the regular items, we have been receiving orders for knitwear and gloves,” said Shreedhar Khanal, proprietor of Moon-Sun Trading. Khanal, who has been in the business for over a decade, said that pashmina shawls and scarves in multicolour patterns and of artistic designs were also among the new choices of importers. Nepal exports pashmina products containing a 70:30 blend of wool and silk. Prices for products made of a mix of pashmina and silk start from Rs 4,500 while prices for pure pashmina products start from Rs 5,500. Traders import pashmina yarn mainly from China. According to them, production costs have swelled 5-10 percent due to a stronger dollar. Mandu Babu Adhikari, chief programme officer at the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA), said traders had been getting orders for products in new designs. With growing demand for innovative designs, the association has planned to encourage its members to manufacture such products. The association has joined hands with the Namuna College of Fashion Technology, Bansbari to help pashmina manufacturers produce fresh designs. Adhikari said they planned to tap the skills of the college’s students. “The college will study the designs currently popular in the international market and assist pashmina manufacturers to develop new products accordingly,” said Adhikari. According to the NPIA, Nepal exports 95 percent of its pashmina output. The association has registered the Chyangra Pashmina brand in 41 countries including major export markets like the US and European countries. “We have targeted boosting exports to these countries by offering a new line-up,” he said.
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