Mamta (Mana) Takula is the Himalayan Naari Manager. In her role Mamta manages the on-site work of Naari’s Leadership Team and 60 artisans. With the Leadership Team, Mamta oversees all aspects of the Himalayan Naari program in India from product & color design and sample development to production, quality control and shipping. In addition, she is a skilled photographer, taking many of the photos for the Naari on-line store and social media.

Mamta is currently bringing two new initiatives to Naari: A pad machine project to improve menstrual health in the community. Mamta is also organizing an Aipan painting program to create products in this traditional art that Naari women can sell.

In addition to her computer skills and excellent English, Mamta brings a wonderful warmth and enthusiasm to the team. She enjoys hiking with her dog, Jojo.

Rekha Karki is a Master Knitter at Himalayan Naari. She has a unique skill in being able to create our new product samples. In addition to product development, Rekha trains the other Naari artisans in knitting new items. Rekha is a native of the Chakouri region. She has raised her family in Chakouri and sends her two children to the Himalayan InterCollege.

Kusum Joshi was a founding member of Himalayan Naari. She is a superb knitter; she created the Kusum stitch which is used in many of our shawls and scarves. She takes a leadership role in Naari as a member of the wool team, which is responsible for procurement and distribution of the wool to knitters.

She coordinates the supplemental nutrition for the malnourished, pregnant and nursing women. Kusum also works in the Himalaya Naari vegetable garden.

Kusum grew up in Gangolihat, a small farming village in the Kumaon region. She moved to Chakouri about five years ago so that her three small children could attend the Himalayan Inter College.

Mamta works as one of Naari’s wool co-leaders. She prepares and orders the wool. She assigns items to the knitters and provides the required wool, ensuring that the records reflect what each artisan is making. As an expert knitter, she attends to any wool related issues or emergencies throughout the knitting process.

Mansee Parekh is an art educator and designer based in Bangalore with more than 15 years of teaching experience across textiles, design and ceramics. Fluent in five Indian languages, she brings an unusual ability to connect people and ideas across different communities.

She connects artisan communities with businesses and social enterprises through clear communication, seamless production and collaboration. As a bridge between artisans and international design teams, Mansee is deeply involved with Lofty Peaks Yarn and Himalayan Naari through training, mentorship and capacity-building, helping support sustainable livelihoods while keeping craft knowledge alive.

Manvee Vaid, the founder of TerraKlay, is the newly appointed director of Himalayan Naari. She has dedicated over a decade to empowering artisan communities in rural India. With a profound appreciation for indigenous arts and crafts, she has effectively bridged the gap between these communities and wider audiences through innovative and sustainable technologies and market connections.

Kathy, the US-based founder and director of Himalayan Naari currently coordinates sales, marketing, and product development. She earned her doctorate at Harvard University.  She is a psychologist with a specialization in leadership development.  Kathy is a trustee of the Himalayan Education Foundation and serves on the board of Historic Harrisville, a historic national landmark.  Every year she travels to India to meet with Naari partners and the affiliatied school, Himalaya Inter College, Chaukori.