New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken so highly of Looms of Ladakh! This is ultimate honour for an organisation that has braved every situation, faced every challenge and paved it’s way with unlimited grit and determination. The unceasing perceverance and United efforts of each and every member of this democratic cooperative organisation and their unwavering spirit and hard work has helped in achieving the goal of bringing together a large number of women from many different villages across Ladakh on a common platform. These women are bound together by the legacy of their own, very own Pashmina which they have succeeded in turning into a global brand and exactly that’s Looms of Ladakh. This would not have been possible without the vision and immense contribution of Abhilasha Bahuguna, the founder and main strategist of Looms of Ladakh.
Friends, when there is a collective effort towards a goal, the level of success also rises higher. I want to share with all of you an inspiring example of Ladakh. You certainly must have heard about the Pashmina Shawl. Ladakhi Pashmina is also being discussed a lot for some time now. Ladakhi Pashmina is reaching the markets around the world under the name of ‘Looms of Ladakh’. You will be surprised to know that more than 450 women from 15 villages are involved in weaving them. Earlier they used to sell their products only to the tourists coming there. But now in this era of Digital India, the products made by them have started reaching different markets in the country and the world. That means our local is now becoming global and on account of that, the earnings of these women have also increased. Friends, such successes of women power are present in every corner of the country. There is a need to bring such examples to the fore as much as possible. And what could be better than ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to convey this? So you too share such examples with me as much as possible. I will also try my best to bring them to you. – Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi
Looms of Ladakh embodies a movement crucial for the region’s sustainability, ecology, environment, and culture. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for being “Vocal for Local” and fostering a “Self-Reliant India – Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Member of Parliament from Ladakh
Abhilasha Bahuguna, Founder and Chief Strategist Looms of Ladakh
In the narrative of Ladakh’s transformation, there is new light on the horizon ignited by the shared dreams of the locals, who envisioned numerous skill development initiatives and the pioneering spirit of Abhilasha Bahuguna, who conceived of Looms of Ladak as a pioneering luxury producer and owner cooperative. This dream’s embodiment took shape when Abhilasha, the visionary, recognized the aspirations of resilient rural women who sought self-employment. She channeled their energy into a cooperative business model, fostering economic independence.
Abhilasha Bahuguna, the visionary behind Looms of Ladakh, saw the coexistence of authenticity and duplicity in the market back in 2013. Fuelled by determination, she launched the women’s cooperative, shifting the narrative from shepherds to skilled artisans, in order to boost the local economy and thereby improve the stakeholders’ quality of life. She was recognized among the 2021 honorees in a Billboard Campaign on NASDAQ Times Square by UN Partnerships and the agency that created the Dino ad for UNDP during New York Fashion Week. – Lalit Shastri, Journalist, Author, Environmentalist, Wildlife film-maker
Looms of Ladakh has embarked on a special initiative to transform Ladakh’s landscape. This encompasses development of both physical infrastructure and digital infrastructure, along with nurturing human resource capacity for management and leadership roles. These efforts are not only enriching Ladakh’s textile heritage but also empowering its workforce for sustainable growth.
Quality control takes centre-stage, especially as all work by Looms of Ladakh occurs by hand in remote villages situated at altitudes ranging from 9000 to 18000 feet. By implementing systematic practices and replicable processes, the cooperative enlists managerial assistance and technical expertise to establish enduring systems.
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