This document describes a small garment factory located in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was established around 2010 in a converted residential building with around 125 square meters of space spread across 4 floors. The factory employs 50-60 workers and produces a variety of cotton and wool clothing items. Key products include cotton shirts, jackets, and trousers as well as cultural dresses that are exported worldwide, especially to Japan, Australia, and Germany. The factory utilizes a range of sewing machines and operates on an order-based production system across its limited workspace.

1. CLOTHING IN
NEPAL
Garment Factory
National Case Study

2. Project Description
• Location: Khusibu, Kathmandu
• Established: Around 2010A.D. (more than 10
years)
• Area: Approx. 125sq.m (4 aana)
• Storeys: 4
• Previously built for residential purpose. Later
converted into a small- scale garment factory.

3. More Information
• No. of workers = 50-60
• Fabrics and equipments are imported from nearby stores and markets.
• Finished products are mostly exported to foreign countries.
• Exported to: esp. Japan, Australia, Germany and all over the world.
• Retail as well as wholesale trade
• Exported through cargo
• Peak season: Dashain and Tihar
• Clothes are designed by a designer.
• Visitors influx - moderate.

4. Fabrics Used
• Cotton
• Wool
• Hemp
• Traditional bakhu fabric

5. Products
• Cotton shirts
• Cotton jackets
• Cotton trousers
• Hemp bags and purses
• Cultural Tamang, Gurung, and Magar dresses
• Woolen jackets and sweaters
• Wide variety of products.
• Cotton is the key fabric used.

6. Operating System
ORDER DESIGNING CUTTING SEWING
PACKING IRONING FINISHING WASHING

7. Spaces
• Administration
• Office for woolen products only
• Workspaces (cutting, sewing, finishing, packing)
• Circulation
• Sanitary
• Storage
• Kitchen
• Pantry

8. Planning
Outdoor Spaces:
• Gate: 9’-0”
• Parking/loading
unloading space:
12’X32’
• 1 Toilet
TOILET
ENTRANCE TO
BUILDING
PARKING

9. SITE PLAN

10. Ground floor
• Woolen section
 Arranging the wools in organized rolls.
 Cutting
 Weaving
 Design making
 Finishing
 Packing
• Office for the woolen section
• Small kitchenette
KNITTING MACHINES
FINISHED PRODUCT

11. Spaces in Ground Floor:
ARRANGING WOOL KNITTING DESIGNING KITCHENETTE

12. First floor
• Major workspace
Cutting
Sewing
Placing buttons
Spreading tables
• An array of windows for day lighting

13. FIRST FLOOR PLAN

14. Spaces in First Floor:
CUTTING SEWING HEMMING

15. BALCONY
SEWING MACHINE
HEMMING MACHINE
DRINKING WATER
SEWING

16. Second floor
• Administration
• Display
• Gallery
• Store
• 1 Toilet
STORE
DISPLAY

17. SECOND FLOOR PLAN

18. Spaces in Second Floor:
ADMINISTRATION GALLERY DISPLAY

19. Third Floor
• Kitchen
• Rest/Relax
• Terrace
• 1 Accommodation Space
PUJA ROOM KITCHEN

20. THIRD FLOOR PLAN

21. Fourth floor
• Finishing(Cutting extra threads
and so on)
• Ironing
• Packing
• Storing packed products
• 1 Accommodation Space
FINISHING AND PACKING

22. FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

23. Machines used
Machine Dimensions Remarks
Brothers knitting machine 5’-6” X 18” X 3’- 0” Ground Floor; Making designs in woolen products
Cutting machine 26” X 15” X 10” First Floor; Cutting piles of fabrics into suitable
patterns
Over lock machine 4’- 0” X 1’- 10” X 30” Sewing edges of clothes; Hemming; Seaming
Flat lock machine 4’- 0” X 1’- 10” X 30” Hemming sleeves and bottom of the knits products
Rib cutting machine 4’- 0” X 1’- 10” X 30” Cutting ribs, fabric piping tape or fabric stripe
Jack machine 4’- 0” X 1’- 10” X 30” Sewing
Sewing machine 4’- 0” X 20” X 30” Sewing clothes
Total no. = 6

24. Toilets
• 1 in the ground floor (outside the building)
• 1 in the second floor
• 1 at the top (not used)
• Total = 3

25. Circulation
• 1 Staircase for vertical
circulation.
• Dog-legged staircase
• Riser = 150mm
• Tread = 300 mm
• Width = 914mm ( 3’- 0”)
• Landing = 1200mm X 2130mm
• All workspaces are
interconnected in a floor.
STORAGE IN STAIRCASE

26. Lighting
• Windows for day
lighting.
• Day lighting not
enough for
workspaces.
• Use of artificial lights.

27. Structure and Materials
• Basic framed structure
• Flat roof
• Building materials:
1. Bricks
2. R.C.C
3. Marbles in staircase.
4. Some rooms were carpeted.
5. C.G.I sheets and iron posts.
FRAMED STRUCTURE CGI SHEETS

28. CARPETED FLOOR MARBLE STAIRCASE PAVED PARKING

29. Pollution and Waste Management
• Not much sound
pollution
• Waste fabrics are either
sold
• Or used in other clothes
if suitable

30. Others:
• Fans
• CCTV cameras for security.
• Certain work opportunity available for
handicapped people.
• Internship for fashion designing
students.
• Kitchen for the workers.
• Accommodation facility.
• Generator (not in use recently).
CCTV CAMERA
FANS

31. Analysis
Positive Aspects:
• Domestic context far from urbanized chaos.
• Maximum utilization of spaces.
• Production of quality products and efficient
trading.
• Good relationships among the staffs.
• Well ventilated work spaces for staffs.
Negative Aspects:
• Chaotic environment inside due to limited space.
• Unmanaged storage.
• Less flexible space and no scope for future
expansion.
• Need rapid manufacturing process due to limited
space.
• No fire extinguishers or any other safety
equipments.

32. Inferences
• Despite not having proper spaces dedicated to what a factory should have,
the work environment was very positive.
• We can learn to enhance the relationships among the workers to create a
positive work environment by creating more spaces where they can interact
and relax.