For generations, the women of Khoma in Lhuentse have turned silk threads into intricate Kishuthara, preserving a weaving tradition that has become closely tied to the village’s identity and economy. Yet, despite their skill at the loom, selling the finished textiles has often remained a challenge.
A showroom established in the village is now helping bridge that gap, offering local weavers a convenient place to market their products without having to rely largely on personal contacts and buyers from outside the community.
For 42-year-old Pem Dechen, weaving is woven into the rhythm of daily life. She spends hours at the loom, carefully working silk threads into the elaborate patterns for which Khoma’s Kishuthara is renowned. In the past, however, completing a piece was often followed by uncertainty over when and where it could be sold.
The new sales centre has made access to buyers easier, although Pem says the convenience can sometimes come with a trade-off.
“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,” she said.
Other weavers say the showroom has reduced their dependence on informal networks to find customers.
“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, a weaver from Khoma Gewog.
For Tshering Lhamo, another local weaver, the biggest change has been greater confidence that the textiles they produce will find a market.
“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,” she said.
The showroom, funded by the Department of Tourism at a cost of Nu 3 million, opened in May last year. Its first year of operation, however, did not generate the level of business initially anticipated.
According to the showroom, ongoing road-widening works affected access to Khoma and resulted in fewer visitors reaching the village.
“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, a salesperson at the Khoma showroom.
Despite the slow start, the centre carries particular significance in a community where weaving provides the main source of income for nearly 80 per cent of the population.
By bringing buyers closer to the women who produce Khoma’s celebrated textiles, the showroom is gradually changing how the village’s weaving tradition reaches the market. For the weavers, it offers something that has often been difficult to secure: a more accessible and dependable avenue for turning generations of craftsmanship into income.
