Founder | Nhu Designs | VI Cohort | Circular Economy/Creative Enterprise
Nhu Designs: Turning Textile Waste into Sustainable Opportunity
Founded in 2021 by Rashmi Tandukar in Lalitpur, Nhu Designs is a circular fashion enterprise transforming discarded textiles into high-quality lifestyle products while promoting responsible production, sustainable consumption, and women's economic empowerment. Guided by the belief that waste should be viewed as a valuable resource rather than a disposable by-product, the enterprise demonstrates how environmental challenges can become opportunities for innovation, livelihood creation, and business growth.
Rashmi's entrepreneurial journey began with a simple yet compelling question: why were materials requiring significant amounts of water, energy, and human effort to produce being discarded after such limited use? Disturbed by the growing volume of textile waste generated by the fashion industry, she envisioned a different approach — one where discarded fabrics could be transformed into products that combine sustainability, craftsmanship, and contemporary design. This vision became the foundation of Nhu Designs.
Rather than viewing textile waste as an environmental burden, the enterprise created a circular business model that connects garment manufacturers, local artisans, women entrepreneurs, conscious consumers, and organisations seeking sustainable alternatives. Building a market for upcycled products was not without challenges — convincing customers that products made from discarded textiles could be premium, establishing consumer trust, securing consistent markets, and sustaining business operations required persistence and continuous innovation.
Seeking to transform a purpose-driven initiative into a scalable enterprise, Rashmi joined the Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship (Nabil SSE) Fellowship. While the enterprise had a strong environmental vision, it required a clearer growth strategy to expand its commercial and social impact. The Fellowship strengthened her understanding of business model innovation, branding, financial sustainability, and impact measurement while encouraging a more strategic approach to enterprise development. Mentorship, peer learning, and exposure to fellow entrepreneurs further strengthened her confidence to validate ideas, refine her business model, and build an enterprise capable of creating measurable impact.
Since participating in the Fellowship, Nhu Designs has evolved from a retail-focused enterprise into a trusted circular economy partner for NGOs, INGOs, corporate organisations, and public institutions seeking sustainable merchandise solutions. The enterprise has expanded its product portfolio from 35 to 42 sustainable product lines, increased its retail presence from four to six concept stores in Kathmandu, entered the Pokhara market through a boutique hotel partnership, and established collaborations with seven organisations promoting circular economy practices. Partnerships with Ward No. 2 of Lalitpur Metropolitan City and the Rotary Club of Kathmandu Circle have further strengthened community-based textile collection initiatives.
The enterprise's environmental impact has grown alongside its business. Since its establishment, Nhu Designs has transformed more than 2,000 discarded textile items into value-added products, including over 950 upcycled denim garments, 950 ceremonial khadas, 65 kilograms of post-industrial textile scraps, and 55 metres of deadstock fabric. These efforts have diverted an estimated 814 kilograms of textile waste from landfill, contributed to approximately 8.1 million litres of water savings, and avoided an estimated 12.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Operating through a home-based production model, the enterprise also provides flexible livelihood opportunities for five women artisans.
Nhu Designs has also gained increasing recognition for its contribution to sustainable entrepreneurship. Rashmi was recognised among the Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs of Lalitpur (2082), successfully completed the Roots of Circularity Incubation Program at Impact Hub Kathmandu, secured a NPR 350,000 innovation grant to strengthen its circular business model, and was selected for the IEDI Startup Loan 2082. The enterprise's work has further been featured by Setopati, AP1 Television (Prayas), Nepal Television (Sambhav Chha), and Living Magazine.
Looking ahead, Rashmi envisions Nhu Designs becoming Nepal's leading circular fashion enterprise by strengthening partnerships with industries, educational institutions, development organisations, and local communities to build a nationwide ecosystem for textile waste reduction and sustainable production.
"At Nhu Designs, we don't see textile waste as the end of a product's life — we see it as the beginning of a new story. Every product proves that sustainability can create livelihoods while protecting our planet."
Rashmi's journey illustrates how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can transform environmental challenges into scalable business opportunities. Through Nhu Designs, she is not only extending the life of discarded materials but also contributing to Nepal's growing circular economy by creating livelihoods, influencing consumer behaviour, and demonstrating that sustainable enterprise can generate lasting environmental, social, and economic value.