We are sherpa
Greetings from the roof of the world.
From the highest reaches of the Himalayas, our people lead the world in mountaineering with warmth, grace and good humor. In our humble experience, there is no better place for testing equipment—and character.
More than 300 cold winters ago, a clan of intrepid souls trekked from the snowy reaches of Tibet into the Khumbu Valley of Nepal. They acquired the name of sher-pa (people of the east) and settled down as traders and farmers, making a living out of thin air on the steep sides of the world’s highest mountains. In time, climbers attempting to scale the breathtaking peaks that tower overhead found their quest to be all but impossible without the help of the local Sherpa to set the routes, carry the loads, and lay the ropes to the top and back. So it is that “sherpa” became the shortest way to say tough, tireless and trustworthy in any language.
What it means to be Sherpa.
A vision comes out of the clouds.
We are, above all, a family — sharing the same last name, and a deep respect for our heritage. This spirit led to the founding of Sherpa Adventure Gear in May of 2003. Tashi Sherpa, descended from merchant parents who grew up in Namche Bazaar, was hiking the streets of Manhattan one day when he had a vision. The cragg y face of his uncle, Ang Gyalzen Sherpa, shone from a magazine
cover celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hillary’s ascent of Mt. Everest. Tashi realized then and there that the unsung Sherpa heroes of his childhood deserved the honor of a living memorial. Using his own experience in manufacturing, he set about to create exceptional gear that could be vetted and approved by the gutsiest high altitude climbers in the world — the Sherpas themselves.
To quote the antiquated text of one of our earliest catalogs, Sherpa Adventure Gear is “conceived of a humble philosophy and exceptionally spiritual lifestyle unique to the people of Nepal.” This is not a pose by some global company trying to dress in fake humility. We believe that everything we do in our daily lives will affect somebody else. So no matter how tiny our status in the big picture, we try to act in a positive way and be accountable for our actions. So far, luck and perseverance have seen us climb to a good place. Our products are increasingly accepted. We’ve opened thriving stores in Namche and Pokhara. And our flagship location in Kathmandu waits to welcome you with a warm bed and breakfast, and a hot cup of Sherpa tea.
A modern brand. An ancient philosophy.
Saying “Made in Nepal” means the world to us—socially, economically and environmentally. Because we are Sherpa-owned and Sherpa-run, we are very pleased to report that most of our products come directly from Kathmandu. And when we go to our neighbors for help in meeting demand, we always do it with the highest quality control and share the news right on the label.
Made in Nepal. Just like us.
Walking gently on the earth.
From the summit of Mt. Everest, one now looks down on shrinking glaciers. So our commitment to helping others must extend to the planet at large. We constantly demand the very latest in eco-friendly fabrics and packaging, and strive to reduce our overall footprint in shipping and manufacturing.
The Sherpa heart in action. To us, corporate responsibility begins with being an honorable citizen, loving parent, caring friend and compassionate employer. Since many Sherpa climbers are gravely injured or lose their lives while working in the mountains, we give a portion of every sale to the Paldorje Education Foundation. In this way, we provide for scholarships and much-needed programs to benefit Sherpa children. On top of that, through training and jobs with our organization, we are able to offer a meaningful future to even more young Sherpas. By doing business with us, you are doing a genuine kindness to the families of Nepal.
A small prayer for your well-being.
We like to use little prayer flags on the zipper pulls of our garments. Fluttering gently in the breeze as you go about your life, they help you stay in balance with the sky, wind, water and earth. A personal touch is also present in every hand-knit Sherpa hat. Every time you wear one, you support the livelihood of a Nepali family. For that we say tcho-cchey. Thank you.
We would be lost without our peak athletes. We rely on a crack team of Sherpa athletes to help design and test each piece of gear. These people cheerfully endure some of the most harrowing conditions on earth to ensure that our latest equipment deserves the Sherpa name.
Š 2012 Sherpa Adventure Gear, Inc. all rights reserved. Sherpa Adventure Gear and Endless Knot symbol are registered trademarks.
What goes around comes around.
Every piece of Sherpa gear is finished with an Endless Knot. This auspicious symbol represents t he essential unity of t hought a nd action, words and deeds, wisdom and compassion. We place it here as a constant reminder that all things, in all ways, are tied together as one.