Shining a light on Nepalese craftsmanship
MUSKHANE, above all it's the story of craftsmanship nestled in the heart of the Himalayas. Fascinated by the beauty of Nepalese woollen felt, we've been working for more than twenty years to shine a light on it, in our own way.
Our decorative objects are crafted by hand in Nepal. Each of them reflects the talent and the precision of our artisans.
At our side since the very beginning, these women and these men enhance the shapes and the colours that we come up with. Felting, shaping, sewing, their ancestral know-how of wool is without limits. Between their fingers, magic happens.
Going against the grain of industrial production, every step of production is realised in our workshops in the Kathmandu Valley. Each of our products bears the tangible trace of the human hand. That of a seamstress who cuts out the felt circles of our Smarties cushions one by one. Or that of Tej, our workshop manager, who patiently quilts each of the seven parts of the Chakra mobile on the sewing machine.
We have chosen artisanal manufacturing, mindful of the smallest details, to better create a unique felt collection, whose apparent simplicity hides a profoundly authentic approach.
An ethical and social project
The MUSKHANE adventure was born from our profound desire to recognise the value of an exceptional artisanal heritage through a human and committed project.
We didn't start from scratch: Handicap International's mission which brought us to Nepal was a real source of inspiration. The study carried out on fair trade allowed us to understand all the nuances of this approach. It confirmed the path to follow.
Since day one, we have respected this philosophy: putting people at the heart of our decisions and fostering beneficial exchanges with all our partners. We have our heart set on creating special relationships with all the people who contribute to making MUSKHANE exist.
With our artisans first, to whom we guarantee a permanent job, honestly remunerated and carried out in the best conditions possible.
In France too, with our employees, all the stakeholders who bring their expertise and our suppliers.
And of course with our customers, to whom we offer our products designed with infinite care at a fair price.
Each one of us helps the virtuous and felted circle of the brand to grow thanks to their contribution: a sketch, a strand of wool, a technical task or an experience with the product. Sharing a human adventure endowed with meaning, that's the rasion d'etre of MUSKHANE.
An environmental engagement
At MUSKHANE, producing consciously and sensibly is one of our main concerns.
Each day, we carry out concrete actions aimed at reducing our impact on the environment.
We compensate for the CO2 emitted during our shipments from Nepal, but also for our activity in France by donating each year a sum to GERES that corresponds to the emissions generated.
We use natural and renewable materials, we recycle wool scraps as padding in our cushions and our pouffe balls and we don't use plastic for sending our products from the online shop. We produce with accuracy, there's no waste, nothing is destroyed. Notably, we offer the unsold products from old collections at a reduced price during special operations on the site, such as "Last Chance" and "Bazaar" and we regularly make donations to different associations: DEM Nepal, Audrey Jacobs Foundation, Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, Prométhée Humanitaire…
We are conscious that everything is improvable, that's why we work endlessly to evolve MUSKHANE according to the environmental issues of our time. Moving the lines, creating with passion and working differently, these are the mantras that have guided us for more than 20 years.
Objects designed to last
MUSKHANE products are created to last. From the first sketches, in the latitudes of Annecy, to the strands of wool intertwined by our Nepalese artisans, they carry the values of longevity and high-quality work.
With them, the essential is within easy reach, the useful rather than the futile, the playful oh-so practical... Well-chosen and artisanally crafted pieces which have taken the time to grow to reach maturity.
We're creating felted accessories intended to be kept for a long time, ideal companions for living in the rhythm of the household... Far from fashions and trends, they always naturally find their place in our homes. Everyday essentials, they stand out for their natural, timeless design and their palette of vibrant colours.
Inspired by Nepalese harmony, which revitalises us and is essential to us, they recount with simplicity the generosity of an ancient craftsmanship.
Natural and renewable materials
Our flagship material is woollen felt. Made from sheep's wool, water, soap and that's it. A natural and renewable material, with countless virtues and infinitely adaptable, which we fell in love with more than 20 years ago. A soft, fluffy material, which isolates from noise and from cold, which isn't scared of heat and regulates humidity.
This material, which the Nepalese artisans know like the back of their hands and whose work they have mastered, is the starting point for MUSKHANE. Lokta paper, a traditional Nepalese paper, kapok, hemp and even nettle fibre have come to complete the collection. A permanent quest for good, authentic material which promotes local networks and know-how.
More discrete yet essential, other natural materials like cotton and bamboo give substance to our creations. They contribute with softness a timeless and cosy allure. With the same exigence, we also use some materials, selected for their technical properties. That's the case for brass, which warms our wall jewellery with its golden glow. Or the synthetic foam of our oval chakati cushions, perfect because it easily refinds its shape. Nothing is left to chance.
