Weaving a Stronger Voice: ICA-AP Visits Looms of Ladakh
Across Ladakh’s mountain communities, women are building livelihoods and shaping the future of their cooperative.
From 11 to 15 October 2026, ICA-AP Regional Director Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer and his colleagues, Ms. Shivali Sarna and Ms. Nitya Shukla, visited Ladakh at the invitation of Looms of Ladakh, a rural women’s cooperative building a luxury textile brand rooted in the traditional crafts of Ladakh.
Founded in 2017, Looms of Ladakh brings together more than 200 women producers. Over the years, they have built a cooperative, established their own brand and premises, and brought traditional Ladakhi weaving to new markets through contemporary design. Their work supports local livelihoods and helps keep their weaving traditions alive. What stood out was their deep knowledge of Ladakhi Pashmina, pride in their traditional crafts and determination to build a thriving enterprise together. Through their cooperative, these women are not only preserving their cultural heritage but also exercising their rights as members, participating in decisions and taking leadership roles. Young women are stepping forward to manage cooperative affairs and shape the movement’s future.
The team met the women behind the cooperative, observed its elections and joined its Annual General Assembly. The team had the opportunity to visit election centres across Ladakh. Mr. Iyer travelled through four centres in Kargil. Ms. Sarna and Ms. Shukla travelled across the Changthang plateau, visiting five centres and meeting women members. The visits offered a chance to see cooperative participation across communities spread over a vast and challenging landscape.
More than 150 women attended the Annual General Assembly. Members took an active part in discussions, shared their views and considered the cooperative’s work and plans for the future. A fashion show choreographed by creative director Ms. Himani Sharma brought the members’ craftsmanship to the runway. A Deloitte Social Impact team, led by Mr. Aseem Punia, guided members through a review of the cooperative’s work over the past nine years and a discussion about the decade ahead.
The Assembly reflected the energy and commitment of the women who have built Looms of Ladakh. Their work brings together traditional skills, collective enterprise and a shared vision for the future. As the cooperative continues to grow, ongoing learning and opportunities for members to participate will help strengthen it further.
ICA-AP thanks Abhilasha Bahuguna, the members and the Looms of Ladakh team for their warm hospitality.
Learn more at www.loomsofladakh.in