Bishal Pradhan | Upcycle Nepal Collaborative Partner
Please introduce yourself.
I’m from Kathmandu and I’ve been working as an automotive photographer and a traveller. As Rajan has been my friend from my college days, I’ve been closely working with Upcycle Nepal.
How have you been collaborating with Upcycle Nepal?
I’ve mainly been involved in advising and consulting on product development. For example, we’ve worked together on prototypes for bags such as travel bags and camera bags. From the sketch stage, we discussed design ideas in detail, for example what materials to use and how they could be recycled. We’ve also talked through the functionality and finer details of each design throughout the process. Beyond that, I’ve shared feedback as both a friend and an advisor, discussing how Rajan approaches his work, what kind of suggestion or input might be helpful for Upcycle Nepal, how products are presented in the store, and where there’s room for improvement.
You’ve been involved since the very beginning of Upcycle Nepal. What led you to take part in their work?
In the early days, Upcycle Nepal mainly collected clothing from households. They asked people to donate clothes they no longer wore or fabric materials no longer used. Those items were then washed and reused. What stood out to me was that they go beyond simple product manufacturing. They also donated clothing directly to people living on the streets. They also donated to local residents around the office and those who couldn’t afford to buy clothes. When Upcycle Nepal carried out these campaigns, I joined them on the ground and participated alongside the team.
Observing Upcycle Nepal's consistent growth, I began exploring ways to support Rajan from an objective, external perspective. I’ve shared feedback by observing their work process from outside the team. Recently, I’ve encouraged them to move beyond making standard bags and explore products with stronger market potential, especially bags that reflect traditional Nepali styles. If a product is made in Nepal, I believe it should incorporate indigenous Nepali motifs.
As a traveler myself, I also suggested creating travel bags that can hold cameras, laptops, and accessories. Having a diverse product range is important, and focusing on just one type of bag isn’t enough.
What do you see as the most distinctive aspect of Upcycle Nepal?
From what I’ve seen, there aren’t many organizations as active as Rajan or Upcycle Nepal. They participate in various events and campaigns and openly show how their products are made, how materials are collected and washed, and how safe the products are. I haven’t seen other companies doing this. Most simply open secondhand stores and focus on selling products. That’s a clear difference between Upcycle Nepal and typical secondhand shops.
There are a few upcycling companies around tourist areas like Thamel, and they do produce products. However, when you talk to them, many rely heavily on foreign aid when setting up their production. As a result, the products may look beautiful, but the production costs become very high. Upcycle Nepal, on the other hand, is trying to build a structure that allows products to be sold at affordable prices. Rajan consistently thinks about how to create practical, well-loved products using resources that are available locally.
What do you think Upcycle Nepal’s work represents in the context of Nepal?
In Nepal, there are no national-level projects focused on reusing clothing or products. There’s also very little government-led promotion around this. Upcycling is still a completely new concept in the Nepali market. Because of that, what Upcycle Nepal is doing isn’t easy. Still, even if it takes time, I believe Upcycle Nepal is necessary since people need to understand the positive environmental impact of upcycling. Their work has the potential to bring meaningful change to both the environment and the market.
Upcycle Nepal continuously raises its voice to both the government and local communities, but above all, they focus on changing people’s perceptions. Many people still see upcycled products as “used” rather than as new products, simply because they’re made from recycled materials. That’s why Upcycle Nepal works hard to explain the environmental and social impact of recycling and upcycling waste. They also emphasize that upcycled products are practical and accessible, something anyone can use comfortably. Through this, they’re trying to create a broader impact and shift how people think.
Having worked closely with Rajan over time, how would you describe him as a leader?
Rajan consistently approaches the government with proposals and keeps explaining why upcycling is necessary. Even without formal support, he looks for ways to promote upcycling. He also actively employs women to make bags and products, putting women’s empowerment into practice.
When it comes to collecting upcycling materials, in the past, the team waited for people to come to donate clothes. Now, Rajan goes directly to schools, offices, and even relatives’ homes to collect materials himself. He thinks carefully about what materials to use and what kinds of products can be made from them, then applies Upcycle Nepal’s expertise to design new items. He’s currently working on several prototypes and continues to study how practical they will be for users. I would describe Rajan as a versatile leader with a holistic vision.
Bishal Pradhan | Upcycle Nepal Collaborative Partner
Please introduce yourself.
I’m from Kathmandu and I’ve been working as an automotive photographer and a traveller. As Rajan has been my friend from my college days, I’ve been closely working with Upcycle Nepal.
How have you been collaborating with Upcycle Nepal?
I’ve mainly been involved in advising and consulting on product development. For example, we’ve worked together on prototypes for bags such as travel bags and camera bags. From the sketch stage, we discussed design ideas in detail, for example what materials to use and how they could be recycled. We’ve also talked through the functionality and finer details of each design throughout the process. Beyond that, I’ve shared feedback as both a friend and an advisor, discussing how Rajan approaches his work, what kind of suggestion or input might be helpful for Upcycle Nepal, how products are presented in the store, and where there’s room for improvement.
You’ve been involved since the very beginning of Upcycle Nepal. What led you to take part in their work?
In the early days, Upcycle Nepal mainly collected clothing from households. They asked people to donate clothes they no longer wore or fabric materials no longer used. Those items were then washed and reused. What stood out to me was that they go beyond simple product manufacturing. They also donated clothing directly to people living on the streets. They also donated to local residents around the office and those who couldn’t afford to buy clothes. When Upcycle Nepal carried out these campaigns, I joined them on the ground and participated alongside the team.
Observing Upcycle Nepal's consistent growth, I began exploring ways to support Rajan from an objective, external perspective. I’ve shared feedback by observing their work process from outside the team. Recently, I’ve encouraged them to move beyond making standard bags and explore products with stronger market potential, especially bags that reflect traditional Nepali styles. If a product is made in Nepal, I believe it should incorporate indigenous Nepali motifs.
As a traveler myself, I also suggested creating travel bags that can hold cameras, laptops, and accessories. Having a diverse product range is important, and focusing on just one type of bag isn’t enough.
What do you see as the most distinctive aspect of Upcycle Nepal?
From what I’ve seen, there aren’t many organizations as active as Rajan or Upcycle Nepal. They participate in various events and campaigns and openly show how their products are made, how materials are collected and washed, and how safe the products are. I haven’t seen other companies doing this. Most simply open secondhand stores and focus on selling products. That’s a clear difference between Upcycle Nepal and typical secondhand shops.
There are a few upcycling companies around tourist areas like Thamel, and they do produce products. However, when you talk to them, many rely heavily on foreign aid when setting up their production. As a result, the products may look beautiful, but the production costs become very high. Upcycle Nepal, on the other hand, is trying to build a structure that allows products to be sold at affordable prices. Rajan consistently thinks about how to create practical, well-loved products using resources that are available locally.
What do you think Upcycle Nepal’s work represents in the context of Nepal?
In Nepal, there are no national-level projects focused on reusing clothing or products. There’s also very little government-led promotion around this. Upcycling is still a completely new concept in the Nepali market. Because of that, what Upcycle Nepal is doing isn’t easy. Still, even if it takes time, I believe Upcycle Nepal is necessary since people need to understand the positive environmental impact of upcycling. Their work has the potential to bring meaningful change to both the environment and the market.
Upcycle Nepal continuously raises its voice to both the government and local communities, but above all, they focus on changing people’s perceptions. Many people still see upcycled products as “used” rather than as new products, simply because they’re made from recycled materials. That’s why Upcycle Nepal works hard to explain the environmental and social impact of recycling and upcycling waste. They also emphasize that upcycled products are practical and accessible, something anyone can use comfortably. Through this, they’re trying to create a broader impact and shift how people think.
Having worked closely with Rajan over time, how would you describe him as a leader?
Rajan consistently approaches the government with proposals and keeps explaining why upcycling is necessary. Even without formal support, he looks for ways to promote upcycling. He also actively employs women to make bags and products, putting women’s empowerment into practice.
When it comes to collecting upcycling materials, in the past, the team waited for people to come to donate clothes. Now, Rajan goes directly to schools, offices, and even relatives’ homes to collect materials himself. He thinks carefully about what materials to use and what kinds of products can be made from them, then applies Upcycle Nepal’s expertise to design new items. He’s currently working on several prototypes and continues to study how practical they will be for users. I would describe Rajan as a versatile leader with a holistic vision.