Ktm Haat is exactly what you would imagine it would be – a space for fresh produces, locally made accessories, garments, and decorative items all under one roof. Being in operations for exactly a year, it’s going by its tagline, “There is something local for everyone” and seeing as to how they have all basic utilities and a few more luxurious items among their displays, there really seems to be something local for everyone here.
Reshma Kanti Gauchan, Neelisha Pradhan, and Anita Sherchan are the proprietors of Ktm Haat. The trio has been friends for many years and share a common love for the crafts. “We have always been involved with projects that relate to crafts so we wanted to build a platform for them, buying and selling wise,” shares Sherchan. So they modeled their platform in the likeness of haat bazaars (regularly run open air markets where vendors and buyers trade goods). “Traditionally, haat bazaars are where people bought and sold just about everything. Since we were targeting locally based products it made all the more sense to follow a haat bazaar concept,” explains Sherchan.
Ktm Haat is based in Bhanimandal and is spread across one single floor where items from 40+ plus vendors are on display. From large-scale producers to independent home producers, there is a great variety in the wares displayed. Baskets, ceramics, vegetables, grains, vases, jewelry, clothes, bags and even simple everyday items such as potholders and aprons are some of the things you can pick up at Ktm Haat.
Hong Kong is China’s matter
“Our haat bazaar is a platform for anyone who is making use of local resources and doing their bit in producing Nepali goods. By putting them all under one roof, we hope to give visitors a chance to appreciate the skill sets and products of all our producers,” shares Gauchan adding that this is exactly how it’s been with their customers.
Some of the vendors whose products are on display are entirely online based and don’t run a retail outlet of their own. Some are single workers who produce limited quantities of their products and don’t even run a business of any kind. While a few vendors are solely home-based women, some like Green Growth are larger scale vendors for which Ktm Haat acts as a distributor.
Ktm Haat also collaborates with small scale producers like Dambar Kumari who specializes in traditional children’s clothing. After the three founders communicated their designs with the producer, a whole new range of products was produced. Then there’s Green Growth with its fresh vegetables (delivered daily to Ktm Haat) and organic products. Green Growth, with its aim to reduce middlemen costs, directly buys products from farmers all over the country. Dhukuti is another brand that produces hand hammered copper products. Korkroma features cotton babywear and Lahar Shrijana is all about elephant grass baskets, trays, and home utility items.
On weekends, there’s a pottery class for children in a section of the outlet. Equipped with all pottery essentials, kids spend close to three hours at their sessions making figurines and pots. “We may think that kids today are reckless and have no patience for work that takes attention but during these sessions they are the quietest, most dedicated bunch. Many insist on staying longer than the allotted hours,” says Pradhan. Monitored by Harisharan Prajapati, a well-known ceramic artist, these sessions are open to adults as well during the weekdays.
“Kids feel a sense of achievement at having created something. We have many things put on display and it’s important that people realize where they come from. Our pottery classes, in addition to being fun, is a way to ground them,” explains Pradhan. Some of these crafted wares can be purchased as well.
When they started a year ago, Pradhan, Gauchan and Sherchan personally reached out to vendors and explained to them the concept of their store. They attended fairs, browsed through social media sites and did a fair bit of research. Soon enough people reached out to them – often independent producers who produced in limited quantities. Given that they were good, they were all put up at the store.
A young jewelry designer who works with two other artisans has her jewelries on display the store. There’s another producer who singlehandedly works and makes extracts of stinging nettles (sisno). “Almost all of our producers are under the age of 35 and it is great to see young people, especially women, come up and help in the product market,” says Sherchan. When one considers taking their skills to a commercial level, often the belief that they require heavy capital to finance their venture acts as a disincentive. “We are here to make sure that does not happen,” claims Gauchan.
Ktm Haat has plans to launch another outlet in Kathmandu soon. Although they have grown significantly in the last year they are still hesitant to take their market online. “Haat bazaars are about being there, seeing and experiencing it all yourself. All of our products have value and we don’t wish to end up being another store that sells its goods to people. Building connection is among our topmost priorities,” concludes Pradhan.
