New Delhi, Oct 18 (KNS): Ladakh’s famous Pashmina heritage and indigenous craftsmanship were showcased at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI 2026 here on Sunday, with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena calling for connecting traditional crafts with contemporary design, entrepreneurship and wider markets.
The presentation, titled “The Fifth Season: A Fashion Story from Ladakh,” was held on the concluding day of the fashion week at Hotel Taj Palace and focused on the artisans and pastoral communities of Changthang, who sustain the region’s Pashmina heritage at an altitude of about 14,000 feet.
In a virtual address, the Lieutenant Governor as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said Ladakh’s traditional crafts possess immense potential for global recognition and stressed that the benefits of growing recognition must reach Pashmina herders, weavers, craftspeople, women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups, while preserving the authenticity of indigenous traditions.
He congratulated the Department of Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh, for providing a platform to local designers, artisans and traditional craft enterprises, and expressed confidence that such initiatives would preserve Ladakh’s heritage while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and strengthening the region’s economic growth.
The initiative was conceptualised and facilitated by the Department of Industries and Commerce, UT Ladakh, under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with support from the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI).
According to officials, the initiative seeks to strengthen the visibility of Ladakh’s indigenous products, promote local designers and artisanal enterprises, and create opportunities for market access, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
A significant feature of the presentation was the participation of artisans from Changthang, whose presence on the runway brought the people behind the craft into the spotlight. Officials said their participation honoured the skill, patience and dedication required to sustain traditional Pashmina craftsmanship in one of the world’s most challenging high-altitude environments, and highlighted the need to ensure that the communities preserving this heritage benefit from its growing recognition and commercial potential.
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Four designers and artisanal brands from Ladakh — Namza by Padma Yangchan, Zilzom by Stanzin Palmo, Changra Ladakh by Deskit Angmo, and Charkha Ladakh by Rigzin Yangdol — presented their interpretations of the region’s textile heritage, combining traditional techniques with contemporary design.
Namza by Padma Yangchan opened the showcase with 18 ensembles featuring brocade fabrics and Pashmina, while Zilzom by Stanzin Palmo presented 18 ensembles featuring self-designed silk prints inspired by the landscapes of Changthang, alongside contemporary interpretations of snambu, a traditional Ladakhi woollen textile. Changra Ladakh and Charkha Ladakh showcased handspun and handwoven Pashmina shawls.
Shalini Passi walked the ramp as the showstopper in a gown designed by Zilzom, while the Dashugs band complemented the showcase with a live musical performance.
Officials said that since attaining Union Territory status in 2019, Ladakh has been advancing initiatives to strengthen local livelihoods, promote indigenous products and expand economic opportunities, with the development of traditional crafts and handloom enterprises forming an important part of this journey.
The Department of Industries and Commerce has been supporting the craft value chain through Common Facility Centres, skill-upgradation programmes, improved production facilities and assistance for traditional handloom enterprises, they said.
Building on the momentum, the Ladakh Pashmina Conclave is scheduled for October 23–24 under the RAMP Scheme, bringing together producers, artisans, designers, entrepreneurs and buyers to develop business linkages. More than 50 stalls and over 100 entrepreneurs and buyers are expected to participate in the conclave, which will provide a platform for product showcases, direct buyer-seller engagement and potential long-term commercial partnerships.(KNS)
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