Our Story
Ochre Knitwear’s journey to becoming a leading manufacturer of sustainable cashmere, linen, and cotton knitwear begins in Kathmandu, Nepal. When you purchase their products, you are not just buying stylish and comfortable clothing, but you are also supporting a brand that has a remarkable story to tell.
It all started almost 25 years ago when Greg Lock founded Ochre Knitwear. Greg has a long history with Kathmandu, a place he first visited at the young age of 17. He fell in love with the magical ambiance and the welcoming people of Nepal, and it became a place that he would keep coming back to. However, it was Greg’s father who was actually stationed in Nepal for many years, and he and his wife still live there.
With a deep connection to Nepal and its people, Greg built his company around the values of sustainability, ethical production, and social responsibility. Ochre Knitwear is a family-run business that supplies all its production through factories in Nepal.
At the Ochre factory in Kathmandu, over 70 staff are employed, with the majority being Tibetan refugees. The company is committed to ensuring that its employees are well-paid and have excellent working conditions. Most of Ochre’s employees have been with the company since its inception, and the brand values their continued presence as the company has grown.
At Ochre’s two production sites, the high-quality knitwear is manufactured on hand machines. It is a labor-intensive and highly skilled process that involves knitting the garment into the correct shape, style, and measurements. The garments are then dyed, assembled, and hand-finished, ensuring that every piece of Ochre knitwear is of the highest quality and made with care and attention to detail.
By purchasing Ochre Knitwear’s sustainable cashmere knitwear, you are not only getting a quality product, but you are also supporting a brand that values sustainability, ethical production, and social responsibility. It’s a brand that is making a difference, not just in the fashion industry but also in the lives of its employees and the communities they serve.
Our Charity Work
As our company has grown and expanded, we have never lost sight of our commitment to the local community that has supported us from the beginning. In fact, it is part of our core values to give back and support those around us.
We take great pride in providing opportunities for individuals from the local community to join our team. By doing so, we are not only investing in our business but also in the community as a whole. Through our training programs, we are able to equip these individuals with the necessary skills to succeed in their roles and beyond.
Our support for the community extends beyond our employment practices. We recognize that there are other pressing needs within the community, particularly in education, healthcare, and social welfare. To that end, we have been actively providing financial support to local schools, charities, and hospitals. We believe that these organizations are vital to the well-being of the community and we are committed to supporting them in any way we can.
In addition to our financial support, we are also passionate about environmental initiatives. We recognize the importance of sustainability and protecting the planet, which is why we are committed to supporting green initiatives locally. From reducing our carbon footprint to promoting eco-friendly practices, we believe that we can make a positive impact on the environment and contribute to a brighter future for all.
Overall, we are proud of our ethical practices and commitment to the community. We believe that by investing in our employees, supporting local organizations, and promoting sustainability, we are making a positive impact that will be felt for years to come. As we continue to grow and expand, we will remain steadfast in our dedication to the community that has given us so much.
As you can see on a picture above, everyone is in school uniform. These are children from very poor families, whose mothers work in the fields and are uneducated…The complete uniform costs about £8 we contribute towards this cost.
Through the power of education, We try to ensure that young girls are not just learning how to read and write, but are also gaining essential life skills like proper hygiene and hand washing practices. They are becoming the change-makers in their communities, teaching their mothers and families about the importance of good hygiene and sanitation practices.
To make sure that these girls have the tools they need to succeed, the school has built separate toilets for boys and girls, something that is not always common in their area. This not only provides privacy and dignity for the girls, but also ensures that they have access to proper sanitation facilities, which is essential for good health.
But education alone is not enough. The children in this village suffer from poor nutrition and often fall ill due to parasitic infections. To combat this, the school organizes vitamin A and de-worming tablets every six months. These supplements help the children grow and develop properly, while reducing the number of sick days and absenteeism from school.
It’s amazing to see how a small school in a remote village is making a big impact on the health and wellbeing of the community. By empowering young girls with knowledge and providing them with the tools they need to succeed, they are not only changing their own lives, but also the lives of those around them.
For the past 15 years, we’ve been part of an incredible journey that has changed the lives of countless students from Birkdale School in Leeds. Every Easter, we help arrange an unforgettable adventure for these young learners as they travel to Nepal to work and teach in local schools.
It’s a transformative experience that has had a profound impact on the students, many of whom have gone on to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. But the impact goes far beyond the students themselves – it’s also making a real difference in the lives of the Nepalese children they work with.
In Nepal, education is truly a gateway to a brighter future. For many children, it’s the only way they can break free from the cycle of poverty that has held their families back for generations. By providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, we’re helping to give them a chance at a better life.
It's a privilege to be a part of this incredible journey, and we're proud to have played a role in changing so many lives for the better.
