Miyabi Holm

The story behind Bahini started in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Our founder Miyabi volunteered to support the NGOs Change Action Nepal and SHE=Precious in their work for human rights. Instantly she was welcomed as a sister among the Nepali women, and learnt that the younger girls were called bahini, which means ‘little sister’. Apart from the loving sisterhood she also witnessed the prominent gender inequalities in the Nepalese society.

“I had never before experienced such a vibrant culture and loving people. At the same time it was incredibly difficult to observe another side of their society; the harsh, sometimes violent climate for women and girls. Having been born and raised in Sweden, one of the most gender-equal societies in the world, made the experience impossible to shake.”  -Miyabi

When she returned from Nepal she started to investigate what she could do to help Nepalese girls in their fight for independence. Over the years that followed, while working in Stockholm within IOT and hardware production, she planned and saved up money, in order to be able to fully focus on starting a social enterprise. And so, in 2016 she founded Bahini, with the mission to empower girls and raise awareness about sex-trafficking.

Today, two years and several Nepal-trips later, after meeting with Fair Trade-certified suppliers and learning about the Nepalese traditional craftsmanship, the first Bahini-scarves are real and available to bring a future of hope to girls who need it the most.

WISDOMSHARE : Japanese Shibori Dye