Timeline and Impact

Traditionally

Sheep wool Raw material Barter economy. Utilitarian weaving in Eastern Ladakh highlands by women using Yak and sheep wool while men were away grazing their livestock. Yak wool tents and saddles were made using these fabrics.

1900s

Moravian Missionaries imparted knitting skills inLadakh, Lahaul Spiti, Niti Mana. The women made socks and caps with local sheep wool.

2000

LEHO imparted frame loom weaving skills to a group of 15 women in Domkhar village for three months in 2002. These members started selling their plain shawls at local fairs. After the three months handloom training, LEHO, an NGO carried out projects in other agro and tourism activities.

Early 2000s

KVIC and District Handloom Department distributed frame looms and imparted frame loom weaving training in Changthang villages in early 2000s.

2010

All Changthang Pashmina Growers Society (Dehairing Plant ) formed by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in 2010, Lack of professional management or regular elections has been a hurdle in realising it’s full potential. Having local Dehairing Plant did give confidence to the locals in their dreams for Ladakh Pashmina fibre processing at source region. It is also seeing steps for professional management in recent years.

late 2000s - 2015

Indian Army imparted tailoring and embroidery training under Operation Sadbhavna. These women members, many of whom are now members of Looms of Ladakh, were empowered enough to find small jobs in tailoring and embroidery in the local market.

2013

Birth of an idea for Cooperative as a Business Model for Luxury Fashion Fibre Pashmina

2010 - 2015

Independent entrepreneurs opened their stores in Leh. The products sold used local fibres like sheep and yak wool, along with brocade silk. However, local population lacked weaving, tailoring and other production skills for the luxury industry. Therefore the production of the designer collection is mostly outsourced.

2015

Pashmina Promotion Programme was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Textiles to improve the quality of fiber at the source region.

2016

District Administration's 3 months Skill Development Project

  • Pilot Phase training - Stok Kharnakling
  • Phase I -  Chuchot Phyang
  • Phase II - Changthang villages
  • Dastkaar Pilot Test

2017

Local women asked for more than a skill development project. they asked "What next? Will exhibition stalls give us stable income?" 2013 Conception of Cooperative as a Business Model and then 2017 local women demand for more than skilling, joined force.

May 2017:Birth of Looms of Ladakh Women Cooperative Ltd

  • Flagship Store launch.
  • First Ladakh Textile Exhibition Representation at various forums.
  • IRMA, SEWA visits of elected office bearers.
  • On the job training of roles and responsibilities of elected artisans.
  • Kullu Weavers Center Training
  • Tie up with online Portals - Gaatha, Novica

2018: Showcasing Potential

  • Swatch and Yardage development for Pashmina and Sheep wool Designer Collection presented at Mayfair London with funds through bootstrapping. Event covered by Fashion Revolution UK.
  • Rs. 3 lakhs Grant for looms by NHPC Alchi.
  • Two weavers attend 6 months training at Handloom School Maheshwar in Advanced Weaving and Business Management. Handloom school requested to waiver tuition fees for the cooperative.

2019: Stronger Towards Traction Stage

  • NIFT knitwear interns’ collection at Looms of Ladakh adjudged best at NIGT Conclave. 
  • First batch Handloom School graduates peer learning training conducted by the cooperative to share knowledge with other members.
  • Two more artisans complete 6 months of course work at Handloom School Maheshwar with a tuition fees waiver.
  • Elected artisan leaders continue to learn manage their own affairs on the job. 

2019 - 2020

  • Usha Silai School partnership to have all skills farm to fashion within the cooperative - Shepherd practices, spinning, weaving, knitting and now tailoring.
  • Lethargy sets in the elected artisan leaders and Covid year sales drop.
  • One more year for the cooperative to be eligible for funding with its fair processes and democratic set up.
  • Coverage about the cooperative at various platforms
  • Second Cooperative General Body Election (every 3 years)

2021: Entering Traction Stage

Co-Founder Bahuguna & some member owners contribute personal savings to buy land in Cooperative's name for Head Office

Targets

  • Team building > Elected + Professionals
  • Product Innovation, Production Streamlining + Quality Control

2021-2023

ICICI Bank funding - Construction of Head Office and Central Atelier of the Cooperative

2022-2024

NabFoundation funding for Advanced Skilling, Marketing and Decentralised Workstudio construction in Chushul Changthang. Proof of concept developed in Leh for eco-friendly wovens and apparels manufacturing by value addition in local fibres. Milestones: 1/56 count local Ladakhi sheepwool yarn R&D and handholding the first generation weavers of Ladakh Textile Cluster in weaving 1/56 count yarn. Earlier Ladakh weavers could weave upto 1/30 count yarn only. Members also handholded in stitching designer garments. Earlier local designer garments were stitched outside Ladakh.

2023-2024

Ethically Sourced Raw Material- Value Addition in Local Fibres

S.No. Raw material purchased Percentage Value in Total Production Percentage Volume in Total Production
1. Pashmina 85% 20%
2. Sheepwool 7% 66%
3. Others 8% 14%

2023-2025

MoU with Leh Sub Area India Army for training female dependents of ex-army servicemen in Leh.

2023-2026

3rd General Body Elections for Office bearers

Funding from Royal Enfield Social Mission to upscale the Leh proof of concept developed in 2022-24 in Changthang, Kargil and Leh. Milestone: Prayer flag in woven with extra weft by Royal Enfield guest designer Rina Singh gave confidence to Looms of Ladakh Design Team for extra weft motifs.

2024-2025

Handloom Consultant to WWF Leh for Charles Darwin Initiative project for the pastoralists community in Eastern and South Eastern Ladakh.

September 2024

September- Profit Loss Statement distributed among herder-artisan members in the 7th Annual General Meeting. Earnings of members in weaving, dyeing and tailoring trades risen to Rs.15000 per month on average from Rs.3000 per month.