A group of men and women line up against a white building in the sun and smile while some shield their eyes.

Norlha

Tibet's first Yak atelier

Norlha is the first yak wool atelier on the Tibetan Plateau, nestled in the remote village of Ritoma. For generations, the region’s nomadic community has spun, felted, and woven yarn from khullu, the fine undercoat shed by native yaks. Recognizing an opportunity to merge this rare material with the masterful craftsmanship of local artisans, Dechen Yeshi set out to create Norlha—a pioneering atelier and social enterprise dedicated to both exquisite craftsmanship and community empowerment.

Two hands hold a very delicate, fluffy textile material in front of a light source with a dark background.

The Work

With her mother, Kim, a trained anthropologist with deep expertise in weaving and textiles, Dechen sought to modernize traditional practices while preserving their cultural integrity. The first step was replacing drop spindles and blackstrap looms, which limited large-scale production. Sourcing looms from India and bringing in expert trainers, they refined textile techniques and introduced management skills, ensuring that Norlha could sustain both artistic excellence and economic independence for the village.

Three Norlha artisans devote an entire day to crafting a single trail blanket, blending traditional felting techniques with innovations developed at the Norlha Atelier. As the first atelier in the world to produce yak wool felt blankets of this scale and quality, Norlha continues to push the boundaries of craftsmanship.