We were lucky to catch up with Karen Schlegel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Karen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission behind my company is to support women’s livelihoods in developing countries, through celebration of their craft and creativity. The concept for Chakati came to me while volunteering in Nepal in a rural farming village. It was here that I had the experience of seeing first hand how women in the community created chakatis, a small but beautiful woven mat, traditionally used to sit on. I decided to create a business model that would connect these local products to a larger market, allowing people around the world to appreciate the beauty of traditional craft, while also providing livelihood opportunities for women in largely patriarchal societies.

This mission is important to me because while I will never fully understand the deeply entrenched disadvantages and hardships placed on women these developing countries, I can relate on some level. As a teenager, I was cast out from my family and experienced financial hardships that made life incredibly difficult for me for many years. I was lucky in that I live in a country where I was able to work many different jobs, get myself an education, and hustle my way to a level of financial security. But none of that would have been possible without the help of multiple families who saw my struggles and gave me a place to live when I had no other options.

I will never forget those who helped me and they have inspired me to help others. Many of the women who make the crafts we sell do not have access to other means of income. My dream is that one day, we will be able to provide these women a stable, reliable source of income, so they have a comfortable level of financial freedom and independence.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the founder of Chakati, a lifestyle boutique, born from the fusion of my main passions in life: design, travel, and helping women. I have worked in the interior design industry for over 12 years and hold a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design and a Masters Degree in Sustainable Design. While I have always remained passionate about design and the environment, sometimes you need a change. In July 2021, I decided to quit my job, and set off for a one-year solo travel experience, with the intent of finding new inspiration and a path towards a more meaningful life. The idea for this company came to me while volunteering in Nepal.

I began working with women from rural areas in Nepal and India, incorporating their traditional craft styles as well as all natural materials into environmentally friendly home décor products and personal accessories. As an interior designer I immediately saw the beauty and potential that these crafts had and decided I wanted to share them with the rest of the world. Everything Chakati sells is completely hand made by rural artisans in developing countries. The focus is on using local and natural materials, ranging from naturally dyed hemp and organic cottons, to water hyacinth and banana fiber.

Something I am particularly proud of is the growth seen in the artisans, as we work together and adapt their traditional craft style to meet the aesthetic demands of contemporary life. A woven panel that once might have been stitched into clothing is now being adapted to create purses, bags, cushion covers, and table linens.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

All the products we sell are handmade by women in developing countries. I first saw a chakati being woven with corn husk by women in Nepal. That inspired me to create a brand with curated home décor products using all natural materials. I started researching existing NGO’s in Nepal and India, with mission statements aligned towards women’s empowerment. Once I find an organization who I feel aligns aesthetically with my vision as well as ethically with my desire to operate under fair trade principles, I send them an email and ask if they are interested in collaborating.

It is very important for me to visit the organizations in person, to form a connection with the women who work there, learn about their culture and lifestyle, as well as get a better understanding of how the crafts are made. This is also a great way to pursue my desire to travel and see things off the beaten path. I typically spend the first few days observing the women work and watching them weave, learning what the material limitations are, etc. Then I will do some sketches of ideas for new products that I would like to try and create.

I have learned to be patient and flexible in my designs, because sometimes even seemingly simple design turns out to be not feasible and we need to pivot to a different style or form. Due to language barriers and the slower pace of life in the east compared to the west, this process moves at a very relaxed pace and it has forced me to slow down and appreciate the present moments.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Because I work with women in remote areas and I travel alone, sometimes I find myself in slightly uncertain situations, which in the moment can feel a bit scary, but in hindsight make for great stories. My first time in India, I was traveling to a village on an overnight bus. My first mistake was that I dozed off and missed my stop, only to wake up and check my gps map and watch as we drove further away from where I needed to be. I got off at the next stop and my second mistake was trusting that the tuktuk driver knew where the organization I was trying to find was located. Again, I watched my gps with a sinking feeling in my stomach as we passed the village I was trying to find, only to have him deposit me at a waterpark that happened to share the same name as the organization I would be working with. Somehow, even with a significant language barrier, we managed to communicate well enough to get to the correct village, only to realize I didn’t have an exact address or contact number. Thanks largely due to Indian hospitality he wouldn’t leave me until we found my host. After some discussions with other people in the village, they were able to direct us to the correct place, where I happily collapsed into bed.     

Contact Info: 

• Website: https://www.chakatilifestyle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chakati.lifestyle/