Kathmandu, Aug. 9 -- Model Aabha Ghimire is busy calling event organizers and designers. She is due to pay the lease on her apartment and even though she has worked on many photo shoots and has also walked the ramp this past month, she hasn't been paid what she was promised for her work. This seems to be a common issue in the fashion sector in Nepal. It's also not unusual for models and other professionals to be expected to work for little to no money for 'portfolio building'.

"There are a lot of design hubs opening up and more people are becoming interested in working in the fashion sector. On the surface, it looks like the industry is booming. But the sad truth is that, even though the industry is being portrayed as this glamorous worl...