Desi Oon Hub
The Desi Oon initiative, run by the Centre for Pastoralism, supports pastoralists and pastoral ecosystems across India, by focussing on the vast, untapped wool economy that they sustain. It is nudging India to rediscover a range of indigenous wool crafts and craft artisans, to invest in research and innovation for making indigenous wool as the insulation material for sustainable buildings, for packaging and for farm applications as a biofertilizer.
From this initiative has emerged, the Desi Oon hub, a loose collaborative of organisations from across the country’s pastoral landscapes, that work with shepherds, knitters, felters, spinners, weavers to bring indigenous wool into our lives, homes and wardrobes. The Hub is growing as a space for collaborative action, research, experimentation and learning; and for celebrating the richness of the fibre through promotional campaigns and events. Together, an energetic group of civil society organizations, research institutions, rural communities, government agencies, technologists, entrepreneurs, designers, and interested citizens are building a nourishing ecosystem for Desi Oon - Hamara Apna.
Read more about CfP’s indigenous wool program here. To know about CfP’s work on wool insulation, click here.
Collaborators
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Miyar Mufflers
The Miyar Mufflers are hand spun and hand knitted with wool from the knitter’s own sheep. It is a new initiative encouraging community entrepreneurism and traditional crafts amongst the women of this remote valley in the Western Himalayas. The Miyar Valley lies at an altitude of over 3,000 meters in a remote part of Lahaul, HP. Roads, electricity and phones can be cut by winter snow for months at a time.
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Dakhni Diaries, Mitan Crafts
Presenting Mitan: Based in North Karnataka, Mitan promotes craft-based, sustainable livelihood projects for women who had previously depended on seasonal wage-based labour and migration to cities for work. The women have revived and mastered many of North Karnataka's craft traditions and techniques such as indigo dyeing of the neelgars, folk stitch and joinery of the Nadafs, felting, spinning and the kambal weaving techniques of the sheep herding communities.
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Kullvi WHIMS
a self-help group formed by nine female artisans of Naggar village in Kullu Valley. The organisation is promoted by Nisha Subramaniam, who has been working with traditional weaving and pastoral communities in Himachal Pradesh for more than 8 years. Know more about Kullvi WHIMS by clicking here.
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Earthen tunes
Earthen Tunes, a social enterprise founded by NID-Ahmedabad alumni trying to build a better India for the future. Equipped with the tools of Design Thinking and Product Design, Earthen Tunes is presently trying to empower farmers and rural artisans through footwear made of indigenous wool and other natural materials. Learn more about Earthen Tunes by clicking here.
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Shepherds of Himalayas
Shepherds of Himalayas (SoH) is an independent project that aims to explore and document the traditional as well as ecological knowledge of shepherding and other pastoralist communities in Indian Himalayas as they spend nomadic / semi-nomadic existence in search of better pasture for their herd. Know more about SOH by clicking here.
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Avani Earthcraft
Nestled in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Avani is a community built on the principles of sustainability and local empowerment. Fusing traditional techniques with sustainable technologies, Avani's talented farmers and artisans produce exquisite, one-of-a-kind textiles and lifestyle products using 100% natural materials, including plant-derived dyes, sustainably harvested indigo, and locally-produced silk and wool. Learn more about Avani by clicking here.
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Urmul
The URMUL Rural Health, Research and Development Trust, Bikaner was initiated by URMUL Dairy (Uttari Rajasthan Cooperative Milk Union Ltd.), Bikaner in 1983. URMUL Trust represents a family of organizations working towards social and economic change in the lives of the people in the harsh, inhospitable and interior regions of western Rajasthan. Know more about Urmul by clicking here.
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Aana Jaana
Aana Jaana is an initiative by Jen Hoover who works directly with herders, weavers, and knitters to develop new markets for their wool and woollen products. Jen is a hobby spinner-knitter-weaver turned interdisciplinary researcher with a B.A. in Anthropology and M.S. in Textiles. Learn more about Aana Jaana by clicking on this link.
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Khamir
Khamir, a platform for the crafts, heritage and cultural ecology of the Kachchh region of Gujarat, is well known for its work with Kala cotton. Khamir has been working with the Patanwadi sheep wool and wool artisans of Kutch to revive the local wool economy for three years now. Learn more Khamir by clicking here.
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Peoli Design
Based in the Kumaon hills, Peoli is a design studio based in Almora. It is an initiative by two textile design graduates from the National Institute of Design, Abhinav Dhoundiyal and Vasanthi Veluri, who work with the women artisans of Almora to develop a range of handmade, natural-dyed woollen and cotton products. Know more about Peoli Design by clicking here.
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The Color Caravan
Located in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh, The Color Caravan is a creative social venture based in village Naggar. Founded by Swati Seth, the venture works primarily with women artisans using skills like hand spinning & plying , natural dyeing, handknitting, crocheting, weaving and sewing to create slow fashion & lifestyle products.
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Rangsutra
Rangsutra is a company owned by a community of over two thousand artisans across rural India. We act as a bridge between rural artisans and global consumers while developing sustainable livelihoods and retaining India’s rich craft heritage. Know more Rangsutra by clicking here.
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Cotton Rack
Cotton Rack is a 9 year old woman led, institutionally funded business from India which focuses on minimal eco-friendly and ethical practices to create minimal designs in hand spun natural textiles. Cotton Rack, also, actively works in social impact sector towards sustainable development in fashion and textiles in collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental institutions. Know more about Cotton Rack by clicking here.
Facilitator
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Centre for Pastoralism
Anchoring the Desi Oon Initiative, CfP has been working to develop and disseminate a nuanced understanding of sheep pastoralism as well as the wool economy; and work with craft, natural building and educational organisations to explore ways to develop livelihoods based on indigenous wool.