2024 was an extraordinary year of ethical manufacturing at our Fair Trade factory in Nepal. With 2025 underway, we share the top updates that you need to know if your planning production in 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about our progress as an ethical factory and what it means for your manufacturing needs this year.
Purnaa moved to a brand-new facility 🏢
In 2024, we moved into our purpose-built Fair Trade factory spanning over 2,750 square meters. It's a space designed to consider the values of ethical manufacturing including:
Environmental Considerations: Natural heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
Safe, Open Workspaces: Large windows and ample natural light for a comfortable work environment.
Sustainable Features: Rainwater collection and onsite RO water purification systems.
Energy Efficiency: LED lighting powered by Nepal’s hydropower, a clean and renewable energy source.
This expansion allows us to develop bigger teams, operate more machinery, and fulfill orders with greater speed and efficiency, all while maintaining the quality and ethical standards we’re known for.
2. Our team grew, as did our impact 🌱
Last year, we grew our team by 97 staff members across production and management. Here’s a snapshot of our new additions:
Specialized Teams: We expanded our machine knitting, handwork, and crochet teams by adding more skilled team members.
Technical Expertise: Embroidery technicians, printing technicians, and knitting sample leads joined our roster.
Leadership Expansion: We welcomed new project managers, a junior accountant, and directors to strengthen our management structure.
HR Development: A dedicated staff development department and HR assistant are now in place to support growth and training.
Each new hire bolsters our ability to deliver high-quality products while deepening our social impact as an ethical manufacturer.
3. Our services have expanded! 📈
We expanded our range of manufacturing capabilities, making us a one-stop Fair Trade factory for our customer's diverse production needs:
Toy and Doll Production
We introduced a stuffed toy and doll catalog, to showcase our range of plush toys and offer guidance on developing custom toys and dolls with Purnaa. Customers can work with organic or recycled materials to develop the perfect toys for their brand.
Our expanded crochet team was on hand to support one of our newest production partners, Feiner Zwirn, bringing animal characters to life with exceptional crochet craftsmanship.
Our core material offering includes GOTS organic cotton fleece and GRS recycled polyester
Embroidery Services
Thanks to a grant from USAID, we invested in embroidery machines and a skilled technician, allowing us to offer high-quality embroidery services previously unavailable in Nepal. Our handwork team also manages hand embroidery on items such as toys and dolls.
Cap Manufacturing
We’ve significantly expanded our range of cap styles, allowing customers to design with MOQs as low as 12 pieces per style. With in-house sublimation, we provide limitless customization options in prints and colors.
New styles introduced in 2024 include:
5-panel soft structure curved and flat visor caps
5-panel Skate cap
Lo-pro 6-panel Dad hat
Beanie
Bucket Cap
We even developed a surf cap with our partners at Ripplix. Designed to stay secure during surfing, it uses materials sourced from post-consumer waste, addressing a market gap with innovation and responsibility.
4. We have big plans for 2025 🚀
As we look to the year ahead, Purnaa is committed to continued growth and innovation. We aim to connect with like-minded brands that want their products to support sustainable livelihoods and generate change for vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Cap & Toy Expansion
We plan to expand into even more stuffed toys and doll styles, adding variety to our catalogs.
More white-label cap styles and decorative options will be available, enhancing the versatility and customization for our customers.
Healthy and Performing Teams
We will continue increasing our team, hiring, training, and developing employees in Accounts, HR, Project Management, Embroidery, Printing, Staff Development, and Knit Production.
The nature of manufacturing is fast-paced, and we want to ensure that all employees have a healthy workload. Maintaining balance is a key focus for us this year.
Growing and Engaged Employees
We aim to boost staff satisfaction and engagement
Career development plans will be fully utilized to support professional growth.
Life help systems for staff will be defined and systematized, including offering free in-house counselling and life coaching for all employees.
How to Plan Production for 2025 - Purnaa's Top 5 Tips ✅
Planning ahead is essential for a successful production calendar. Here are our tips for getting it right in 2025:
Forward planning is key: Think about where you want your product to be in two seasons' time and work backwards. For a new product, allow at least 3-6 months for sampling and development.
Bring your factory into the fold early: Involve your factory before finalizing design decisions to ensure feasibility and efficiency.
Utilize local materials: Take advantage of materials available locally to your manufacturer for cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Explore other specialties: Check if your factory specializes in additional products that could complement your line.
Start conversations as soon as possible: Discuss with your manufacturer early in the year to secure timelines and ensure a smooth production process.
Want to learn more about ethical manufacturing?
Get in Touch 💌
Thinking of developing a new range or product? Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your ethical manufacturing needs! Follow this link.
Sign up to our Newsletter
Get monthly updates straight to your inbox by signing up here.
Learn More
To learn more about how about manufacturing with us, check out our other posts:
Comments