Building Sustainable Business and Livelihood for the Women of Ladakh

Rangdol Janfan, a student in the social sector (TISS) was an intern with Looms of Ladakh. The internship with Looms of Ladakh gave him an insight into the industry, community, and the stakeholders and changed the outlook towards the sector. Rangdol stated “Most importantly what I felt after working with Looms of Ladakh is that one is connected with the bigger purpose of improving the lives of the people. As a student in the social sector (TISS), it is my wonderful privilege to get a chance to work and learn in the Looms of Ladakh. It is a perfect place to experience the corporate setting and social objective confluence. This has been my first experience of working with an organization that is involved in producing high-end luxury wearable goods. The organisation - Looms of Ladakh - supports decentralized production in the homes of a couple of hundred women scattered in nine different villages in Ladakh. The effort and the teamwork involved in maintaining this scattered network in distant locations is something that amazes me. The organization is making shawls, stoles, mufflers, caps, socks, and gloves out ofpashmina, sheep wool, yak wool, and Bactrian camel wool that is produced locally, and are 100 percent handmade, naturally dyed, and is also unique to the region. Many of the members of this organization are producers. They are working with full dedication to give identity to the real owners of pashmina and the habitats of the region. Looms of Ladakh is imparting skills and necessary training to its members to add value to their produce. My internship with Looms has given me new insight into the industry, community, and stakeholders. It has also changed my outlook on the sector. For an intern like me, it has been a huge opportunity to work with Looms of Ladakh and gain on-the-job experience in brand building and skill development. My short stint with this organization has been very fruitful and an experience worth recommending. Especially, one would like to underscore that the organization’s work culture makes a real difference to one’s personality. Looms of Ladakh inculcate among its members and workers the spirit of hard work, commitment, and professional ethics. Another upside is that one enjoys going to the field to meet the members at different centers or villages and also while working at the office and meeting the clients and funders. The organization, in its growing stage, is also very dynamic. The members and staff have well-defined roles. At the same time, they are also involved in other activities like picking new and meaningful ideas and knitting them together to shape and structure the organization better. Being an organization with small administration and a large network of scattered members, the intern gets the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the organization from purchase to processing, marketing, fundraising, community mobilization, capacity building, and so on. It gives an all-around exposure to both the industry and the community. Most importantly what I felt after working with Looms of Ladakh is that one is connected with the bigger purpose of improving the lives of the people. What is very significant at a personal level is the awareness that each little action on my part as an intern will help, even if it is a drop in the ocean, in building a sustainable business and livelihood for the women of Ladakh.

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Building Sustainable Business and Livelihood for the Women of Ladakh

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