THE STORY OF YABUDU
In 2022 I travelled to Nepal for 5 months. I trekked for 16 days along the Tamang Heritage Trail and through the Langtang Valley. In Syabrubesi, the trekkers hub and the starting point of my trek, I stumbled across a lovely shop that sold hand-woven bags. Seated inside was a lady skilfully weaving these beautiful bags. Along my route I discovered more women selling these hand woven bags in their mountain side houses. The bags illustrated the ancient skill of weaving and were so colourful, I just LOVED them.
Thuman (2390m), a mountain side village which overlooks the Tibetan border, was created by the Tibetan survivors who fled their country after the Chinese invasion. It is a very special place with a rich and unique traditional culture. The way of life is primitive and wonderful.
Upon arrival back to Kathmandu, with a flight booked home in a few days, I knew I couldn’t leave without learning how to weave. A lovely man I met in one of the villages said it would be possible. So, I cancelled my flight home, took an 8 hour winding bus ride and climbed 2.5 hours up the mountain to arrive in the beautiful village of Thuman.
The sun rises over the mountain peaks and slowly warms the village. The houses are all wooden lodges which have been hand built using wood from the nearby forest. Each family have farmland to tend to and yaks or goats to feed. Villagers walk up and down the mountain collecting wood as they cook on an open fire. They grow most of the food they eat, from hand-crushed chilli powder to rice and dal. Water taps are dotted throughout the village for washing and everybody uses the local water mill to make flour from their dried corn or wheat.
The village has an abundance of craft and skill. The women and men wear traditional handwoven clothes and handcrafted hats with intricate embroidery. Wool is spun from their goats and used to weave winter clothing on their handmade wooden looms.
I spent a month living in this inspiring village with a lovely family. They didn’t speak any english, so the conversations we had were very amusing but we formed such a strong relationship. I spent everyday learning how to weave their traditional bags using the ancient process of backstrap loom weaving, one of the oldest forms of loom in the world. I was taught by a wonderful lady named Chenzom. Then Yabudu was born.
Founder and weaver - Georgie Drysdale
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10% of profits are donated to the Nepal Education Foundation who are working to improve primary education in Northern Nepal. One of the mountainous schools they support is the primary school in Thuman.