ARNIKO Skateboards Handcarved skateboards from Nepal Since 2007, Marius Arter lives in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he is running his skateboarding Brand, producing clothing, backpacks... and above all, those incredible hand carved decks, which are more bordering on art pieces. He is now distributing those products, exclusively made by small local enterprises and craftsmen, in his own two Stores, in both Kathmandu and Zurich... I've met this busy guy, daily involved in growing his Label, and raising skateboard culture to Nepal, to ask him more details, about him and his project.

*Hi Marius, could you please introduce yourself ? My Name is Marius Arniko Arter, I am 28 years old. I was born in Nepal and spent the first years of my live there. Then I grew up and studied in Switzerland, and finally came back to live in Kathmandu since about 5 years. * How do we get the idea to make handcarved skateboards in Nepal ? I made a apprenticeship as a carpenter in Switzerland, I was yet a skateboarder and i like very much the shape of the 90' skateboard decks, so during that time, I produced my first decks. After i finished studying and work a few years in Switzerland, I realised that there was nothing for me there, so i went to Nepal just with the idea to make one or two boards, with local craft mans. I took the decks back to Switzerland and the people liked them a lot, so i went again to Kathmandu and produced more boards. In 2007 I decided to live here and become more professional. I started to produce clothes as well, so it grow and today we re a label with quite many different Products. * What is your inspiration for the design of the decks, and the visual identity of the brand ? We try to adopted traditional Nepali designs in to an other context, which are suitable for our style understanding. For example, we made a new collection where we got inspired by the Dhaka fabric, which is used for traditional Dhopis (heads) mainly worn by older Nepali mens. So we adapted the pattern on the boards. * Tell us more about the process to produce a skateboard in Nepal ? To produce in Nepal is not that easy, due to daily load shedding and the complicated political situation. At the other hand is amazing working with crafts man which got there skills teached from there father and grand fathers. In our workshop the boards gets pressed and sawn, after that the Carvers take over, depends of the design they work on one deck up to two 2 days. The finishing is done by me or our apprentice. Our clothing are produced as well in the valley of Kathmandu, the factory is in the business since 30 years so we benefit a lot from there experience. Our leather/canvas bags are produced in a small workshop which is run by Dutch and Nepali where every piece is done by hand and one by one to guaranty the quality which we require.

* How many people are involved in the Brand ? and how many people are you employing in Nepal ? In Switzerland we re 12 people involved in the business, in Nepal i have a team of 3 permanent stuff, if we get big orders we re 4 people working on it. Our aim is to produce all our products in Nepal, to provide the possibility to learn more about carpentry and the western quality understanding and of course to provide jobs in Nepal. We occasionally employ as well some local people like the photographer or the graphic designer. * At present, you're managing two Stores, one in SW and one in KTM where you are selling your products. Are you distributing them outside those two countries ? We sell manly at our flagship stores in Switzerland and Nepal, but we get orders from all over the world. In Spring 2014 we want to be out in whole Europe.But of course we re open to do whole sale all over the world as well. * The shop in KTM take place in the Thamel district, which is the Tourist area of the City, so I figure that you've got mostly foreign customers, but do you have also local ones ? We sell about 70% to tourists, we try to keep our margin low to give the locals the opportunity to buy our products as well. Since we use high quality materials its some time to expensive for some of the locals. * I've met some young guys, trying to practice Skateboarding in KTM, despite of the lack of spots and affordable equipment. Considering the economical and political situation in Nepal, do you think that it could be a real skateboard scene in the country ? I am pretty sure that there will be a proper skateboard scene soon, they guys are super motivated. Started giving beginner classes, i found a sponsor from the USA which will bring some secondhand boards. We re trying to find a space for a skatepark. etc. It needs time but we re on it. * What's the future of Arniko Skateboards ? We want to grow in Europe, in the States and Australia. And also help to local scene to establish. To be updated, you can check our homepage www.arniko.ch or visit our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Arniko.