Kullu Karishma

Dr. Kamal Kishore a former scientist at the Central Sheep and Wool Research

Institute, Avikanagar started Kullu Karishma with a small Angora rabbit farm in 1990.

The beautiful white rabbit produced soft white wool(angora wool) led him to find ways to add value to the raw material.

The art of spinning, weaving, knitting and crochet of wool is centuries old in the Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Kamal’s scientific background led him to research into

new rural technology available for spinning, tools for knitting, crochet and hand looms.

Dr. Kamal Kishore ‘s dedication towards working with local artisans and craft groups Kullu Karishma has provided regular income to over a hundred women

in and around the Shamshi in Kullu district.

Maintaining the traditional art of natural dyeing, Dr. Kamal Kishore is trying to use plants and vegetation available locally.

Continuous efforts are being made to keep the traditional spectrum of weaves and knitting techniques alive and towards a sustainable future for the

community.

Wool caps, scarves, gloves to fine stoles and shawls, wool fabrics.

Hand spun, hand woven stoles

Cotton caps and bags

Yarn’s used Angora wool, Tussar Silk, Sheep wool, Cotton, Linen

Vegetable dyeing of the fiber Since 1993 vegetable dyes are used to dye most of the products.

The locally available raw material used vary from rinds of pomegranate, almonds, onions, walnuts, rose petals , waste tea leaves or eucalyptus leaves, plum leaves and

catechu waste.

Different spinning techniques

Fiber designing is done on the Bradford and similar local spinning wheels, which are operated by feet leaving the hands free to design the pre-spun yarns into

different shapes.

Knitting & CrochetMajority of the products are hand knitted and crocheted. The products made are

sweaters, caps, socks, gloves, leg warmers, stoles and mufflers.

Handloom Weaving Handloom weaving is done on the four pedal loom. Weaving is done by the weavers

at home and mostly men are involved in the process.

At Kullu Karishma a number of weaves plain weave to twill weave are used to weave fine shawls and yardage.

A single weaver can weave from one meter to five meters in a day depending on the weave, pattern and the kind of yarn being used.

Weaving

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