400 Himachal Women Revive Ancient Weaving, Go Global

Thirty years ago, Kullu shawls kept people warm in the Himalayan hills. Nobody talked about them. Nobody bought them as fashion. They were just part of life.

Then the craft started dying. Sheep herders couldn't make ends meet, so many quit. Women turned to cheap acrylic yarn because it was easier and faster. A weaving tradition that had survived centuries began slipping away quietly.

Twelve years ago, Bhrigu Acharya decided enough was enough. He founded the Kullvi Whims Foundation with one goal: save indigenous wool and put money directly into women's hands.

The women went back to basics. They brought back native sheep wool called Desi Oon and relearned spinning by hand using traditional taklis and charkhas. Thread by thread, they rebuilt what was nearly lost.

Their dyes tell the story of the land around them. Walnut shells create rich browns. Marigold flowers make sunny yellows. Onion peels, forest bark, and wild Himalayan blooms fill out the palette. Not a single chemical touches the fabric.

Today, women across 14 villages are running their own micro-businesses from home. They create coats, shawls, and sweaters that sell from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Their work has reached customers in more than 20 countries.

Last year brought special recognition. Master weaver Indra Devi won the Himachal Handicraft Excellence Award for her hand-spun, naturally dyed designs. The world is finally paying attention to what these women have built.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about saving a craft. It's about 400 women becoming the main earners in their families. It's about shepherds getting fair prices again. It's about young people in hill villages seeing a future they can build at home instead of leaving for cities.

Every piece these women create carries two stories. One is ancient, woven into patterns passed down through generations. The other is brand new, written by women who refused to let their heritage disappear.

These artisans may never walk a fashion week runway, but their work does. And with every shawl that crosses an ocean, they're carrying the Himalayas and their own success story with it.