The Collective

Our shawls are ethically handmade by a cooperative of families in the Kashmir region.

Shawl Wallah (and any traditional, original pashmina shawls) are only possible due to the many people that have a hand in the production process.

This is slow fashion. As it was originally intended.

Our co-operative consists of goat-herders, wool spinners, wool dyers, loom weavers, shawl washers, and the families that support them all.

The artisans and tradespeople we work with are based in and around Srinagar, in Kashmir and Leh, in Ladakh.

The goat-herders tend their flocks in the Changthang region of Ladakh, amongst the breathtaking and unforgiving Himalayan mountains, the native environment for the Changthangi (Pashmina) goat.

Connecting with our cooperative, we strive to ensure no child labour is used, and that those multiple occupations aren't working in adverse conditions.

Our payments go directly to those creating the product, while Shawl Wallah's connectors in Kashmir that help us bridge language and cultural differences are paid independent of the artisans.

Meet the Collective

Shawl Wallah has been a learning journey for its Founder. In exploring how to build a sustainable and self-supporting infrastructure in Ladakh & Kashmir to help support the artisans in what some consider to be a dying craft, .

This isn’t one brand’s responsibility, but the work needs to start somewhere. Thus, here we want to introduce some of the real humans that hold an ancient talent generationally passed down, that our world takes for granted.

Shawl Wallah’s mission includes working with local government, and international fair-trade groups, to bring oversight and support into this unique industry and geographical region.

These artisans have given their permission to share their photos, and their stories, with our guests.