Himbunkar Bhawan Bhuntar, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

Tweed Cloth here in Himachal called as Patti is a short width coarse fabric made of sheep wool. It is woven on the handloom and measures 90 cm wide having an appropriate length . Patti fabric is generally used for making close neck coats, gents coats, over coats, jackets, ladies suits, pants and suthan (pyjamas). Initially women folk used this patti as pattoo, which was thicker and heavier than the pattoo. It is a tradition among the local people that for making chola, i.e. male gown, the wool obtained from the first shearing of a lamb is used.  

A stole is a lady's shawl, especially a formal shawl of expensive fabric. Stoles are used by sophisticated and fashion conscious women. It can be wrapped around the body like a shawl or can be hung from the shoulders. A stole is typically narrower than a shawl, and of simpler construction than a cape; being a length of a quality material, wrapped and carried about the shoulders or arms. Lighter materials such as silk, Pashmina, Angora Rabbit Wool, chiffon are also used besides traditional materials like sheep wool and yak wool.  

Muffler is a woolen article can be draped around the neck by men and women. It is woven usually with pashmina, merino or angora wool having threads of different colours. The process of weaving muffler is same as that of shawls, but the smaller looms are used for mufflers. All designs and patterns of shawls can be woven on the mufflers. Gents mufflers measures 1.70 meters x 0.30 m, while ladies mufflers are little bit longer in length with same width. It keeps the neck and the chest warm from cold. It has elaborate designs on both ends. Depending on the patterning style, like shawls, the mufflers can also be classified into two types as Kullu mufflers & Kinnauri Mufflers. Kullu mufflers shawls have geometrical designs on both ends while Kinnauri Mufflers have traditional Kinnauri designs with unique 5 colour patterning on both ends.

Caps, the glorious crown of Himachal Pradesh are now a recognized fashion logo in every hue. Colorful caps fascinate everyone at first instance. The traditional yet stylish headgear has derived its name from the place of its origin. Locally, it is called as Kullu topi and is an important part of a local man's attire/apparel/garments. Alike Kullu district, in some of the other districts also, cap is an important part of male's attire. The designs of the caps represent the area. The Kullu cap is round in shape and is flat on the top. A band of colourful border brightens the front with beautiful pattern, which is separately woven on small looms and the back portion, which covers the head is made of local woolen yarn and sometimes is also made of cotton or any other light material. These days, plain velvet caps in maroon and green colours are also available in the market. Once use of bright colours in the cap was the significant feature of the caps but nowadays, vegetable colours are being used. These caps are categorized as small, medium and large. The price of a Kullu cap depends on the cloth used and the pattern on the border.

Widely renowned for the intricacy and finesse in weaving Kinnauri Shawls are unique. Their elaborate geometrical designs bear a strong Central Asian influence. Many of the motifs woven have a very special symbolic and religious significance. The colours used for ground are white, black, natural grey and brown. The main colours used for patterning are red, orange, pink, blue, green, yellow, black and white. Out of these five colours represent five elements—white stands for water, yellow for earth, red for fire, green for air and blue for aether. Many a times, they have patterned borders running all along the four edges thereby increasing the labour involved and making them more expensive than Kullu Shawls. Most of the shawls for commercial use are woven on the frame loom, though the ones for local use are still woven on the pitloom. Here the weaver weaves it in two pieces of half width each and later joins them from the center with elaborate hand stitching. This serves the dual purpose of function and ornamentation.

w188.jpgA stole is a lady's shawl, especially a formal shawl of expensive fabric. Stoles are used by sophisticated and fashion conscious women. It can be wrapped around the body like a shawl or can be hung from the shoulders. A stole is typically narrower than a shawl, and of simpler construction than a cape; being a length of a quality material, wrapped and carried about the shoulders or arms. Lighter materials such as silk, Pashmina, Angora Rabbit Wool, chiffon are also used besides traditional materials like sheep wool and yak wool.

Loi is also termed as chaddar by the local people. It is a gent's shawl, which is usually bigger in size . The size of a loi may vary from 1.15 x 2.30 in 1.40 x 2.80 m. Loi is woven in light woolen fabric and is usually plain or with a narrow border at the ends. Men drape it around and over the shoulders. It is generally made from mill-spun fabric and sometimes from hand-spun weft also. These are generally available in shades of brown, gray and white. Pashmina loi is the costliest ones.

Loi is also termed as chaddar by the local people. It is a gent's shawl, which is usually bigger in size . The size of a loi may vary from 1.15 x 2.30 in 1.40 x 2.80 m. Loi is woven in light woolen fabric and is usually plain or with a narrow border at the ends. Men drape it around and over the shoulders. It is generally made from mill-spun fabric and sometimes from hand-spun weft also. These are generally available in shades of brown, gray and white. Pashmina loi is the costliest ones.

Kulu has been famous for its shawls with striking geometrical patterns and vibrant lives. Earlier, the Kulivi people used to weave plain shawls but after the arrival of Bushehari craftsman from Rampur, Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, the trend of patterned handloom came into existence.Typical Kullu shawls have geometrical designs on both ends. Besides geometrical designs, the shawls are also woven in floral designs, which may run all over, on the corners or on the borders only. Each design may have one to 8 colours. Traditionally, bright colours, viz. red, yellow, magenta pink, green, orange, blue, black and white were used for patterning and white, black and natural grey or brown were used as the base in these shawls. But in the present times keeping in mind the customer demand, these bright colours are being replaced gradually by pastel colours. Mill spun yarn dyed in various colours is used for the ground, while a vast range of acrylic colours is used for the pattern in the border. These shawls are available in Sheep Wool, Angora, Pashmina, Yak Wool and handspun material. The yarn used may be chemically dyed or vegetable dyed.Price of any shawl depends upon quality of wool and the number and width of patterns used in it. Owing to the high cost of labour involved in the sorting of fine pashmina fiber, the shawls prepared from pashmina wool are expensive.

We are dealing in kullu shawls, The yarn used may be chemically dyed or vegetable dyed.Price of any shawl depends upon quality of wool and the number and width of patterns used in it. Owing to the high cost of labour involved in the sorting of fine pashmina fiber, the shawls prepared from pashmina wool are expensive.