Panchachuli scarves making a mark globally

Australian cricket player Brett Lee turned a fashion designer with a line of scarves designed in collaboration

with the NGO Artisans of Fashion (AOF), who work with Panchachuli Women Weavers and Woolmark. The scarves, designed with Australian Merino Wool have been hand-woven by the Panchachuli women weavers in the foothills of Himalayas. The designer displayed them during the Wills India Fashion Week.

Almora, nestled in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, is known for its panoramic view of the Himalayas, and the beautiful hand-woven scarves crafted by Panchachuli women weavers. These scarves have enchanted even Bill Gates, who owns a nettle scarf woven by them. Panchauli’s collection comprises of nine designs with 100 pieces in each, has combinations that range from soft naturals to deep, dark classics: natural on camel, dusk on natural, acai on natural, natural on taupe, electric blue on navy, taupe on navy, acai on navy, steel on black and chill on black. The scarves are made by warping fine mill spun lamb’s wool on horizontal wooden handlooms and then hand-woven.

Panchachuli has five retail outlets in Uttaranchal and supplies to the Oberoi, Aman Resorts, Umaid Bhavan and Ananda, and has an overseas market mainly in the US, Germany, Italy, UK and Belgium. Proceeds from sales are a main source of income for the women who own and manage the enterprise. The Six Stitcher collection is available online at Sixstitcher.com, priced from Rs 2,900 and above. AOF is also looking to sell the scarves in select retail outlets and international terminals of airports in major cities.