This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Sport
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Podcasts
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
  • Sport
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Subscribe to trusted local news

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

  • Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

23

Jul 2020

Last Updated: 22/07/2020
Business
Business

Messages from the heart link Ripon and Rajasthan

by Tim Flanagan

| 23 Jul, 2020
Comment

0

The coronavirus crisis has brought Ripon retailer Karma even closer to suppliers based thousands of miles away in the north India state of Rajasthan

ripon-21st-juky-2020-kevin-and-liz-hill-karma-in-kirkgate-2

Messages of hope and encouragement have been ringing out from a Ripon retailer to craftsmen and women in Rajasthan.

Liz and Kevin Hill, who own and run clothing and gift shop Karma in Kirkgate, have remained in regular contact with tailors, jewellers and leatherworkers in the north India state, where the majority of the goods they sell are produced.

Throughout the crisis, Liz has been writing messages inside a rainbow heart in the shop window - the latest being: 'Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.'



Others include: 'Follow your dreams, they know the way' and 'kindness is free, sprinkle it everywhere.'




Read more:



  • Ripon Cathedral's £6m extension plan

  • District's MPs vote against protecting NHS in trade deal






Liz, told The Stray Ferret:

"The vast majority of people have been through a hard time in recent months and we hope that the messages give those who read them a bit of a lift - from passers by, to others many miles away who see them on WhatsApp."


Kevin, added:

"This technology has enabled us to keep in touch with the leatherworkers, jewellers and tailors in Rajasthan, who make items ranging from handbags, to earrings, rings and dresses made from up-cycled saris. They are more like an extension of our family than suppliers."


The Hills, who opened their Kirkgate shop in 2017, became lovers of India's culture and customs when they first visited the sub-continent more than 20 years ago.

They sell goods that are ethically sourced, made and priced and have supported their suppliers during the difficult trading period by providing cash advances ahead of the supply of items, where production and delivery was interrupted because of the pandemic.