Ladakh’s rise as a design hub isn’t new. But it remains a story worth sharing—again and again. No matter how often one visits, it’s hard not to be stunned by the landscape’s sheer improbability. On one of the world’s highest plateaus, Martian dunes rise beside ancient stupas, glacial blue rivers flow alongside seas of poplar, and monasteries, hewn into cliffs, overlook valleys where Tibetan-style masjids call worshippers to prayer.
Over the last year there’s been a particular interest in the region from both within and people outside. Take for example the Himalayan Knot, a textile conservation project led by the motorcycle company Royal Enfield which brought together Looms of Ladakh, a herder-artisan-owned brand, with fashion designer Rina Singh of Eka. The resulting collection translates the visual language of the region—mountains, Buddhist prayer flags, and prayer wheels—into embroidery on shawls, knitwear, and separates. Meanwhile June 2024 saw the second edition of sā Ladakh, a public land art exhibition that engaged with the local community, culture, and environment.
Yet what makes this story even more compelling is the current generation of Ladakhi designers, for whom creativity feels less like a pursuit than a prerogative. For them, it’s also a responsibility—to their design legacy and the craftspeople who sustain it. Interestingly, many of these designers have stayed away from their homeland, moving to cities like New Delhi and Bengaluru, only to be compelled to return by a passion to reinvigorate traditional craftsmanship practices and incorporate aesthetics that resonate with customers far beyond Ladakh. Read Swareena Gurung's chat with these designers on The Nod.
