Kumbeshwar Technical School

What Kumbeshwar Technical School does

Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS) is a non-profit, non-government Fair Trade organization founded in 1983 in Lalitpur, Nepal, by former State Council Member Mr Siddhi Bahadur Khadgi. It was established initially to serve the local Pode community of street sweepers who had been denied education and employment, and now operates a free nursery and primary school for over 200 children, an orphanage for up to 20 children, a daycare centre, and vocational training programmes in carpet weaving, hand knitting, and carpentry. KTS is a registered NGO overseen by Nepal's Social Welfare Council and the Ministry of Education, with carpentry students certified by CTEVT, and it was awarded Guaranteed Fair Trade status by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) in 2013.

KTS produces hand-knotted carpets and rugs from 100% Tibetan sheep wool with custom sizes up to 15 x 4 metres, plus hand-knitted apparel and home textiles (sweaters, cardigans, gloves, socks, hats, scarves, cushion covers, throws, blankets, poufs) from natural fibers including New Zealand sheep wool, cotton, allo (nettle fibre), hand-spun banana yarn, and hand-spun silk, dyed with AZO-free Swiss and German color-fast dyes. Production is carried out by over 2,300 home-based women artisans who also receive daycare, healthcare, and insurance benefits. Because KTS as an NGO cannot export directly under Nepal government regulations, all international shipments are routed through its wholly-owned sister concern Kumbeshwar Trading Centre.

KTS funds its social programmes through three revenue streams: product sales to international Fair Trade buyers (B2B wholesale and direct website orders) shipped globally by air or via Kolkata; membership subscriptions via the Worldwide Friends of Kumbeshwar Kids (WFKK) at US$125 (Full), US$25 (Junior), and NPR 1,500 (Local) tiers; and corporate sponsorship from organizations such as Global Village Japan and Lichtenstein Development Service. Distribution combines direct website sales, Fair Trade marketplace partners (e.g., El Puente Fair Trade), and the trading subsidiary for export compliance, with quote-based pricing (not publicly disclosed), 50/50 payment terms, and minimum order quantities of 30-50 garments or 80-100 accessories per order.

Name

Kumbeshwar Technical School

Legal name

Kumbeshwar Technical School

Website

https://kumbeshwar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kumbeshwar Technical School is a Nepal-based non-profit Fair Trade organization that produces hand-knotted carpets and hand-knitted apparel via 2,300+ home-based women artisans to fund its free school, orphanage, daycare, and vocational training programmes for low-income communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Handcrafted Textiles and Carpets

NAICS

Apparel Knitting Mills (3151), Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods Merchant Wholesalers (424310)

SIC

Carpets & Rugs (2273), Knit Outerwear Mills (2253), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Area Rug Manufacturing (IMAOAJAC), Sustainable & Certified Materials (Organic, Recycled, Traceable) (CRAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Fair Trade textiles
• Hand-knotted carpets
• Hand-knitted apparel
• Artisan home textiles
• Natural fibre crafts

Headquarters

HQ city

Lalitpur

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: KTS generates revenue through sale of Fair Trade certified handcrafted products including hand knotted carpets/rugs, hand knitted knitwear (sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, socks), cushion covers, throws, blankets, poufs, and furniture. All social activities are funded through these income generating production units.
2. Membership Subscriptions (WFKK): Worldwide Friends of Kumbeshwar Kids membership program with three tiers: Full Membership (US$125/year), Junior Membership (US$25/year), and Local Membership (NPR 1,500/year). Membership fees fund education programme and extra-curricular activities.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Global Village Japan provides sponsorship for the Nursery and Primary School. Lichtenstein Development Service funded the orphanage building construction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS) is a Nepal-based non-profit Fair Trade organization that manufactures and exports hand-knotted carpets/rugs and hand-knitted apparel and home textiles (sweaters, gloves, socks, hats, scarves, cushion covers, throws, blankets, poufs) made from natural fibres such as sheep wool, cotton, allo/nettle fibre, hand-spun banana and hand-spun silk. All products are produced by 2,300+ home-based women artisans, and revenue from these income-generating production units funds KTS's free nursery and primary school, orphanage, daycare centre, and vocational training programmes for underprivileged Nepalese families.

Product overview

Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS) is a non-profit Fair Trade organization in Nepal that produces hand-crafted knitwear and carpets to fund social programs. Their product portfolio includes hand-knitted apparel (sweaters, cardigans, gloves, socks, hats, scarves) made from natural fibers (wool, cotton, allo/nettle, banana yarn, silk), and hand-knotted carpets/rugs made from Tibetan wool. All products are produced using Fair Trade practices. The income from product sales funds KTS's educational and social programs including a nursery/primary school, orphanage, daycare centre, and vocational training programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand Knitted Sweaters and Cardigans Hand-knitted wool sweaters and cardigans made from 100% pure wool sourced from New Zealand and hand-dyed using Swiss-made AZO-free colour-fast dyes. Sold via KTS's website and to international Fair Trade buyers as a core knitwear product.
• Hand Knitted Gloves and Mittens Hand-knitted gloves and mittens available in various patterns including diamond motif, with optional fleece lining. Produced by home-based women artisans for international Fair Trade buyers and direct consumers.
• Hand Knitted Socks and Room Shoes Hand-knitted socks and room shoes in various styles including diamond motif, striped, and dotted patterns. Core hand-knitted apparel line sold via the KTS website and to wholesale Fair Trade buyers.
• Hand Knitted Hats and Caps Hand-knitted hats and caps in various styles including dotted, motif, and diamond patterns, some with fleece lining. Produced by KTS home-based knitters for the international Fair Trade market.
• Hand Knitted Scarves Hand-knitted scarves in various patterns including garter stitch, cable, diamond pattern, and infinity scarves. Part of KTS's core hand-knitted apparel range sold to international Fair Trade buyers and direct consumers.
• Hand Knotted Carpets and Rugs Hand-knotted certified Fair Trade rugs and carpets made from 100% Tibetan sheep wool using AZO-free Swiss-made colour-fast dyes. Available in standard designs and custom sizes up to 15 x 4 metres (50 x 12.5 feet) using customer-specified colours. Produced by KTS carpet weaving trainees and artisans.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTS was awarded Guaranteed Fair Trade status by WFTO in 2013. WFTO provides the Guarantee System which includes membership admission, self-assessment, monitoring audit, peer visit, and Fair Trade Accountability Watch (FTAW) - a participative monitoring mechanism.
• World Fair Trade Organisation – ASIA (WFTO-ASIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTS is affiliated with WFTO-ASIA as part of the broader Fair Trade network in Asia.
• Fair Trade Group-Nepal (FTG-N)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTS is a founder member of Fair Trade Nepal, which creates opportunities to promote products through publicity, marketing and buyer introductions.
• GoodWeave FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTS partners with GoodWeave Foundation which rescues children from child labour. GoodWeave underwrites monthly allowances for boys from Shangrila Home while they receive vocational carpentry training at KTS.
• Ministry of Education NepalcoreOthersKTS is registered with the Ministry of Education as part of its governmental affiliations and oversight.
• Social Welfare Council (SWC)coreOthersKTS is registered with the Social Welfare Council for Nepal government oversight of NGO activities.
• Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)coreOthersKTS carpentry students take Level 2 skills exam through CTEVT. KTS runs vocational training in carpet weaving, hand knitting and carpentry.
• Lalitpur Chamber of CommerceminorOthersKTS is affiliated with Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce for business networking and local commerce connections.
• Nepal Good Weave FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKTS is affiliated with Nepal Good Weave Foundation which works to end child labour in the carpet industry.
• Shangrila HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShangrila Home in Kathmandu rehabilitates street boys and partners with KTS to provide vocational carpentry training. They underwrite monthly allowances for boys during training.
• Social Welfare CouncilcoreOthersKTS is registered with Social Welfare Council for oversight of social programs and NGO activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ten Thousand Villages: Large Fair Trade retailer operating a network of stores and e-commerce selling handcrafted apparel, home textiles and rugs sourced from artisan groups in South Asia and beyond. Directly comparable product mix, including knitwear and rugs.
• Maggie's Organics: Fair Trade certified organic apparel brand working with a network of artisan-style producers for knitwear and accessories. Closely comparable on the natural-fibre, fair-trade apparel production side of KTS.
• El Puente Fair Trade: Germany-based Fair Trade wholesale and retail organisation that already distributes KTS-made products (exfoliating scrubbers) via shop.el-puente.de. Operates a similar Fair Trade handicraft + imported artisan goods model across Europe.
• Serrv International: US-based nonprofit Fair Trade organisation that sources handcrafts and textiles from artisan partners worldwide and sells through its own retail and wholesale channels. Comparable operating model with a curated artisan catalog and impact mission.
• Global Crafts: Fair Trade wholesale importer of handcrafted home goods, textiles and artisan rugs with a mission-driven model similar to KTS, supplying US-based retailers and online customers.
• Ganesh Himal Trading: Nepal-based Fair Trade wholesale business selling handcrafted rugs, knitwear and home goods from artisan cooperatives for export to North America. Operates in the exact product categories (carpets, knitwear, accessories) and export channels as KTS.

Regional players

• Kavita and Shiva (Panchakanya): Nepal-based wholesale handicraft exporter of handmade rugs, knitwear and home textiles similar to KTS, but operating primarily within the South Asian export market rather than Fair Trade certification channels in Europe/US.

Broad incumbents

• Fair Trade Federation: North American trade association of Fair Trade businesses. Not a direct competitor but the broader ecosystem body through which KTS-style organisations access buyers, marketing and standards.
• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO): Global umbrella and guarantor for Fair Trade enterprises such as KTS. Operates the Guarantee System under which KTS was certified in 2013; comparable only as a non-commercial peer that shapes KTS's regulatory and reputational environment.

Others

• GoodWeave International: Nonprofit certifier of child-labor-free rugs that KTS partners with for certification of its carpet line. Comparable only as an enabling/standards partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/CNXQtYwhMSc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kumbeshwar-technical-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kumbeshwar Technical School