Nepal is famed for its pashmina and handmade felt products, and workshops and fair-trade shops around Kathmandu produce shawls, blankets, bags and toys from these fine natural fibres. Buying directly from the makers and cooperatives supports traditional skills and local, often women-led, livelihoods, and gives visitors genuinely handmade, high-quality Himalayan textiles and crafts with a positive social and economic impact.