Products
Felt
Colorful Handmade Felt — Crafted by Women's Cooperatives in Nepal
About felt
Nepal's felt industry has grown into one of the country's most vibrant handicraft sectors, employing thousands of women in cooperatives across Kathmandu Valley and surrounding districts. Nepali felt is made from New Zealand merino wool imported for its quality, dyed in bright colors, and hand-felted using the wet felting technique — no machines, no industrial processes. The result is a soft, durable, and wonderfully colorful range of products including bags, purses, slippers, animal toys, Christmas ornaments, rugs, and decorative items. Nepali felt products are beloved by boutique retailers, fair trade shops, and gift stores in Europe, North America, Japan, and Australia.
How they are made
Raw wool is washed, carded, and dyed in vibrant colors using AZO-free dyes that meet EU safety standards. Artisans lay out the colored wool in layers on a flat surface, applying warm soapy water and working the fibers by hand through rolling, pressing, and rubbing until the wool fibers interlock and form a solid felt sheet. This wet felting process takes several hours per piece. The felt is then shaped, cut, and assembled into products — bags are stitched with reinforced seams, slippers are fitted with leather soles, and decorative items are needle-felted with fine details. Each piece goes through quality control for color fastness, stitching strength, and dimensional accuracy.
Felt — questions people ask
Are your felt products safe for children?
Yes, our felt toys and products are made with AZO-free dyes and can be tested to meet EN71 European toy safety standards and ASTM F963 US standards. CE marking documentation is available upon request. We also use child-safe attachments — no small parts that could be choking hazards for products marketed to children under 3.
Why is New Zealand wool used instead of Nepali wool?
New Zealand merino wool produces a finer, softer felt with better color absorption. Nepali sheep breeds produce coarser wool that is better suited for carpets and rugs. Most quality Nepali felt producers use imported merino wool to meet international buyer expectations for softness and color vibrancy.
Can I get custom colors and designs?
Absolutely. We can match any Pantone color and produce custom designs based on your specifications. Many of our clients are boutique retailers who want exclusive designs. Custom orders require a minimum of 100 pieces per design and 4-8 weeks lead time.
How do I care for felt products?
Felt products should be spot cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap. For deeper cleaning, hand wash in cold water and reshape while damp. Do not machine wash or tumble dry as this can cause shrinking and distortion. Felt slippers can be gently brushed with a soft brush to remove surface lint.
Do you offer private labeling for felt products?
Yes, we offer complete private labeling including woven labels, hang tags, custom packaging, and branded poly bags. Many of our wholesale clients sell under their own brand name. We can also include care instruction labels in your specified language.
Buying by the carton rather than the piece? Talk to us about volume →