Beads for life X Né Nepal

Handmade beadwork from Kathmandu, crafted by women, bead by bead.

In Nepal, beads carry meaning. Strands of colorful glass beads called pote have long been worn as symbols of love, marriage and celebration, and Kathmandu’s old bazaars still shimmer with hand-strung beads in every color imaginable.

Every piece of beadwork in our collection is made in partnership with Beads for Life, a women-led workshop in Kathmandu. It began more than 15 years ago, when founder Nimdiki Sherpa started teaching jewelry-making from her own home. As the first woman in her family to receive higher education, and later a teacher and social worker, Nimdiki saw how few opportunities were open to many women in Nepal. She built Beads for Life to change that.

Today, the workshop sits on a small hill overlooking the Kathmandu countryside and employs more than 60 women. Many come from difficult circumstances. Some grew up in poverty, and some are raising families on their own. Here, they learn a skilled craft, earn their own income and give their children the education they never had.

The artisans of Beads for Life specialize in combining glass beads, gemstones and brass with intricate handwork techniques like crochet and beading. Every piece is threaded and stitched by hand, one bead at a time. This is slow, careful work that takes patience, precision and a true eye for color.

At its heart, Beads for Life believes that independence is empowerment. When you wear a piece from this collection, you carry that story with you, and you help it continue.