Weaving Futures 2.0
Inspiring the next generation of pashmina entrepreneurs
Fibre-to-fabric skills, regenerative business thinking and youth leadership were on the agenda in a recent enterprise and skills incubator for young people in the Changthang region.
The 10-day residential workshop brought together 11 young participants aged 18-31 from the Changthang region of Ladakh to build confidence in pashmina skills and entrepreneurial abilities, as well as strengthen pride in being Changpa.
The region is historically linked with pastoral livelihoods, especially pashmina goat rearing. However, in recent decades, younger generations have increasingly moved away from traditional livelihoods due to climate change and livelihood challenges, limited economic exposure, a perceived lack of dignity in pastoral work, and weak local enterprise ecosystems.
The future-oriented workshop aimed to change this, introducing the next generation to the economic, ecological and cultural significance of pashmina.
With a blend of studio practice, immersive field visits, enterprise labs and youth leadership sessions, participants learned practical skills in fibre handling, spinning, basic weaving/knitting and product prototyping. They also explored product and market positioning, branding/storytelling and digital entrepreneurship, as well as community-based business models and youth leadership. Another important strand focused on understanding Changthang’s pastoral landscape, rangeland ecology and climate change.
The hope is to seed a small but committed group of young regenerative entrepreneurs, innovators and rangeland stewards in Ladakh’s highland economy, equipped with the practical skills and regenerative enterprise mindset to build a sustainable future in the region.
