We are proudly presenting our new store & workshop at Noor Complex, 1st Floor, Main Bazar, opposite post office.
Since last few years, I was looking for a better place and it was really hard to find a space like the one I am having now!
It was last year only that one of my friend was leaving this new space and without taking much time I took it on rent. I have entirely changed the outlook and interior of the space by using only wood. I wanted to combine the traditional and contemporary design. It took me around 9 month to complete the interior design and the outlooks, many of my friends helped me in selecting the colours and the material. This new space is five times bigger than the old one so I divided the space into two part, one is for weaving and knitting studio and the front side for show room which is at the corner. Finally I managed to open it on 22nd April 2016 and it was inaugurated by Sh.Tsering Sandup, Executive Councillor for Handloom and Tourism LAHDC Leh.
In our new shop you see how to weave a cashmere shawl. Now we can weave & knit customise design on order and it will not take more than three days (depending on design and colour combination).Three Ladakhi Ladies are working there now as well.
The old shop at Sankar Labrang Complex, Main Bazaar Road, will keep open until September.
We are proud to present our beautiful Pashmina products all the way from Ladakh at the Winter Mela 2015 organized by the NGO Dastkar, taking place from 17th to 28th December 2015.
The winter Mela is celebrating the warmth of craftsmanship and a spectacular International Festival of people and products from MOUNTAINS OF THE WORLD, organised by the Mountain Partnership Initiative – for the first time in Delhi.
Bringing together textiles, rugs, spices, herbs, aromatic oils and other mountain produce from Afghanistan, Altai Republic, Bolivia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Nepal, Panama, Peru, Tajikistan, and the Indian Himalayan Region*.
With weaves and knits, herbal and organic healthcare and beauty products, mouth-watering cuisines from across India, lively cultural performances, a fun Christmas Special evening and our special focus on Mountain Products, there’s going to be lots on offer for everyone.
More info can be found on Dastkar’s Facebook Event.
I am very happy to hear that the LAHDC (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council) is doing their best for the promotion of Pashmina wool and to review the progress of Pashmina Wool Development Scheme (PWDS) and Pashmina Promotion Programme (P3).
For more details check LAHDC reviews Pashmina promotion scheme published by Reach Ladakh.
If the local authorities really want to promote the Ladakhi Pashmina (Layna) than they should also take some serious step to stop the people or shopkeepers who are misleading the tourist on the name of Ladakhi Pashmina. If you go to the market you will find so many shops, I should say most of the shops are named or registered under the name of Pashmina even in the Hall of Fame you will find people sales machine made shawls as Ladakhi Pashmina, I met several tourist who where told strange stories about the Pashmina?
By shopkeepers they are confused with the word Pashmina! Like Pashmina you will see shawls made in Kullu are labelled as Yak wool! If things goes on like this than …………………?
Lets hope for the best!!!
A wonderful detailed booklet about handloom weaving isssued by Dastkar Andhra.
Dastkar Andhra’s initiated its activities in 1989, as an off shoot of Dastkar Delhi. In 1996 it was incorporated as a public charitable trust with the objectives of promoting artisan industries suited to ownership by the primary producers.
Their Objectives are:
- To establish viability of Handloom – as Livelihood, as Product and as Technology
- To work with weaver, weaver institution, market and state in achieving this
- Create a supportive policy process and environment
- To work with producer institutions that are equitable by design and in operation; strengthen institutions at the rural level, by making co-operatives more accountable to its members
- Impact the bargaining power of the weaver both in his immediate context (within co-op and other networks), with the market and the state
- Innovate on handloom market development and work on models for risk-taking and promotion
- Participate in industry growth by the training and dissemination routes, as well as the above
Facilitating participation and equity within and demonstrating the viability of the handloom industry are the long term aims of Dastkar Andhra. Its engagement with weaver communities is based on these principles, insisting on the need for transparency in transactions at all levels and control of different aspects of the production process by the producers themselves.
J.D. Viharini is an incredible single woman who has lived and travelled alone extensively in India and summarize her experiences in her blog Enjoying India. We had the honour to be one of her two favorite places in Leh.
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Noor Complex, 1st Floor
Main Bazar, Leh,
194101
UT LADAKH