Alex Gibson was looking for an alternative to her work as an event planner in Silicon Valley when she decamped for Nepal with her four-year-old daughter. A self-professed amateur photographer, she’d planned to document the aftermath of a devastating earthquake — but when the pair’s luggage was delayed six days, Gibson and her daughter were forced to remain in Kathmandu, the capital city. It was a fortuitous event: Exploring Kathmandu, the pair took a tour of an artisans’ cooperative — an experience that ultimately catalyzed her decision to found Sien + Co., a home accessories and apparel brand.
“I just had my Eat Pray Love moment,” Gibson says.