Our Studio
Our home and studio is nestled in the Indus River Valley, in the outskirts of Ladakh’s capital city of Leh. Here our team gathers to realize the pieces, working together to translate concept into creation. In the summer, our work is done outside, surrounded by the abundantly colourful flowers of our dye garden. In winters, we shift indoors into our studio space, where the floor to ceiling windows let in warm sunlight and the rocky outline of the Himalayan mountain range.
We first began building our space in 2019, and since then each year has brought to life more of our vision. The house and attached studio are built from local and natural materials using the technique of rammed earth and are the ideation of renowned architect, Sandeep Bogadhi. Irrigation channels from the nearby canal bring water to the surrounding garden, which grows more varied each year, as the plants slowly bring more fertility to the soil.
We work in harmony with the elements around us, aligning with earth’s rhythms in our own transformation of fibers and fabric.
All our work is carried out here, aside from the weaving and dyeing of our silk from Assam. The wool from Kharnak is sorted, washed and dyed by hand, using water heated through solar. Our all natural processing allows us to return it to the water stream - either to water the plants or back into the canal - after the washing and dyeing is finished.
Carding is the only step which is done mechanically, by a large carding machine that we acquired in 2019. Wool of a lower grade is used in cushions or as mulch in the garden, closing the loop and thereby eliminating waste from our creative process.
The design and sewing of our garments is also completed in our studio. Keeping production as local as possible enables a close connection to the making as well as the ability to continuously refine our collection. Leftover materials inform the design of new prototypes and each piece is part of a larger whole.
We also offer workshops at our space and if you would like to visit our studio please get in touch via catherine@weareakal.com ! More info here.
