For the women of Khoma in Lhuentse, weaving is more than a tradition. It is a livelihood passed down through generations. But while weaving comes naturally to them, finding buyers has not always been easy. Now, a showroom in the village is bringing the market closer to home, giving weavers a new way to sell their products.
For 42-year- old Pem Dechen, weaving is part of everyday life. Hours at the loom, carefully passing silk thread through intricate patterns to create the fine Kishuthara that Khoma is known for.
But for women like Pem, finishing a piece is only half the work. The other half is finding someone to buy it.
“People who want to buy our products come directly to the centre, making it easier and more convenient for us. However, we used to get slightly higher prices because of the distance. Now that the centre is here, we tend to get lower prices sometimes.”
With the showroom now open, they no longer have to depend entirely on personal connections to sell their work.
“We get one or two visitors a day, and they buy our products. Before the centre was established, I relied on my friends’ connections to sell my work. Now I can simply bring my pieces to the centre, which is much more convenient,” said Tshewang Dema, Weaver, Khoma Gewog, Lhuentse.
“Unlike in the past, we no longer have to worry about our products remaining unsold. The market is no longer a major concern for us. Whatever we produce, we can sell through the centre,” said Tshering Lhamo, Weaver, Khoma Gewog, Lhuentse.
The showroom opened in May last year. The Department of Tourism funded the showroom, worth three million ngultrum.
However, its first year sales were lower than expected. According to its records, road widening works affected access to Khoma.
“We sold products worth over Nu 900,000. Initially we expected higher sales, but due to the poor road conditions, we received only a few customers. This year, we are preparing to welcome more buyers, so we are stocking up on products,” said Jamyang Choden, Salesperson, Khoma Showroom.
For a village where weaving remains the main source of income for nearly 80 per cent of people, the showroom represents more than a place to sell the products. It is a new opportunity to turn generations of skill into a more reliable livelihood.
Namgay Wangchuk, Lhuentse
Edited by Sonam Pem
