Launching the CBA Himalayan Regenerative Fashion Living Lab
We are happy to officially launch our web page for the CBA Living Lab 2.0 on Himalayan Regenerative Fashion.
This Living Lab aims to support herder communities to produce regenerative pashmina – fibre that is not only of exceptional quality but also nurtures the land and the people who depend on it.
In the remote high-altitude plateau of Changthang in the Himalayas, pashmina production is more than a tradition – it is the heartbeat of local life. For centuries, the nomadic Changpa herders have relied on the fine wool of the Changthangi goat for mobility, craftsmanship and cultural identity. In this harsh environment, where agriculture is limited, the herding, combing and weaving of pashmina is central to community livelihoods and preserves an ancient heritage that links community, culture and the fragile mountain ecosystem.
In 2022, a feasibility study identified two key challenges: limited access to fodder crops and increasing youth out-migration, leading to a loss of traditional knowledge. In response, the 2023 pilot phase (Living Lab 1.0) prioritised fodder security, youth engagement and entrepreneurship development, laying the groundwork for long-term resilience of the landscape and also the rural economy. Building on the pilot phase, the second phase of the Living Lab started in 2025.
This Living Lab has been established by the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), with the support of the Brunello Cucinelli Casa di Moda, together with the Sustainable Markets Initiative and in collaboration with the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), the Thiksay Foundation, and the Ladakh Council of India.
Find out more: https://circularbioeconomyalliance.org/himalayan-regenerative-fashion-living-lab/
