David's AW News: The End is Near.

Greetings from calm and peaceful South Goa, after a super hectic week.

Last week I was telling you about my flying visit to Kathmandu to finalise some new products. I was telling you about the mafia there and my little battle with them. If you missed it you can catch up here.

On Monday I took an Air India flight from Kathmandu to Delhi, changed and flew down to Kolkata arriving at midnight. After two days, I caught an Indigo flight direct to Goa.

It's an absolutely crazy schedule, but this last mad dash is needed to sort things before I head back to Europe for Christmas. I leave soon.. the end of this Asia trip is near.

In Kathmandu it was cooler than Bali but still 24c in the city. So just t-shirts and shorts still. I needed to visit the artisan felt factory. Mr Padam our shipping agent wanted to see the factory so offered to drive me there.. Kathmandu is a city in a valley with the outskirts lapping up against the mountains. The felt factory we visited is at the very edge of the city, and as we drove onwards and upwards the temperature dropped dramatically. Blue sky and sunny but just a little chilly.  I spent a fascinating afternoon in the felt factory, finalising samples. Watching the artisans doing the magical felting process and then the super skilful needling that produces the vivid felt picture work.  It was super interesting and I was total absorbed in tweaking the designs and seeing the ladies grasp immediately what we wanted.

From just a bundle of wool using water and a kneading process a bag magically appears, then using a needle and painstakingly needling tiny threads of wool into the base these ladies can make beautiful art. Just amazing.

While I'm Nepal as it happens a shipment of felt products arrived. And as they keep telling me in Nepal felt products are back trending. Mr Padam tells me that Nepal felted items are selling well and a wave of new design ideas are driving good exports.

I'm happy to see the felt zipper pouches back in stock after so long. And i can see we have already sold a third of the stock in a few days.. so definitely trending. Grab stock quickly if love it.

From Kathmandu there was no direct flights to Kolkata, so I had to fly via Delhi arriving late at night. Mr Chatterjee was waiting for me at the airport and we drove to his hometown on the banks of the Ganges about an hour away. They have a system where big trucks over a certain size cannot use the highway until after 9pm, so we hit the highway from hell, I really don't know how we made it.. all these massive pimped up trucks honking and switching lanes roaring through the night. Our little car driven by a guy with no fear and a magical ability to thread us between massive hulking trucks. My god, I was a nervous wreck by the time we made it to the hotel.

Highway from hell.

Then I spent a day checking production in Mr Chatterjee factory. We are working on a new range of Iconic Tote bags. They will be awesome.. (I think) cheap enough that your customers won't think twice, witty, fun and practical. 100% Indian cotton and strong enough to last a long time. Designed for gift shops specifically. And coming soon..

Access all areas.. you will understand why later.

Then after approving all the samples, Mr Chatterjee and I flew down to Goa. Here in peace and quiet, to sort out all the details. Hangtags, barcodes, PO's and compliance details.

My good friends Alex and Maria are as proud as proud can be.. their daughter Anthea has just been elected the Sarpanch of the panchayat of the area. Sort of like council leader in the UK. At just 26 she is the youngest female to take such a roll in India. And thus making history. The family has a history in politics especially fighting for environmental issues along time before it was fashionable. Anthea's grandmother (now passed away) was actually the first female Sarpanch in the state of Goa in 1968. A formidable lady whom I got to know quite well over the years, now Anthea is following in her historic footsteps.

Alex and Maria with their newly elected daughter.

So I'm here with Mr Chatterjee just at the right time to celebrate this event. Alex and his team have also been working hard on renovating our apartment here in Goa. In the pandemic it was sad and neglected, termites and the monsoon took it's toll. But over the last couple of months, everything has been renewed. New windows and doors, new electrics a whole new kitchen.

My plan is to use it as a base for a buying team from AW, a Spanish, Slovakian and UK members of the team. I will train them how to do business in India and we will invite suppliers to come to Goa and show us the best of their wares. So that's also why I'm here.. I'm selecting lamp shades and home furnishing.

Anyway the end is near and soon I will be winging my way back to Europe..

It's so busy - the warehouse team are in full flow.. Christmas is upon us.. Almost December and we have the weather to prove it.

Wishing you a lovely week.

David