KULLVI WHIMS
Our collaborative partner, Kullvi Whims, is a female-led collective nestled in the remote Himalayan mountain village of Naggar, India. Founded in 2012 by Nisha Subramaniam and Brighu Acharya, this independent group reveres the traditional crafts of spinning, weaving, and knitting, which have been lovingly passed down through generations.
Situated amidst the magic of the Himalayan landscape, Kullvi Whims embodies the essence of slow craft, seamlessly aligning with the seasonal rhythms of mountain life. In this region, deeply infused with goddess culture, women have long embraced a harmonious existence with the cyclical patterns of nature.
“We love working with our ancestral craft of knitting. But as women of the mountains, we feel working on our land is such an integral part of our being. It’s in this work of weaving/ knitting we feel the interconnectedness of our work tied to the land. Working with our indigenous wool is rooted in the reciprocity of nature - the shepherd that walks the land and sheep that feed off the mountains then give the gifts of reciprocity - wool. Which we then weave into beautiful pieces”.
Ancient traditions echo through the valleys, with women weaving tales of fertility, life, and creation within the sacred confines of the goddess temple. Legend holds that the temple itself was spun into being by the Goddess, who transformed into a spider, intricately crafting a sanctuary resembling a delicate web.
This profound reverence for life's interconnectedness is artfully mirrored in Kullvi Whims' craft practices. Through the art of spinning, weaving, and knitting, passed down through ancestral lines, these artisans weave a rich tapestry of tradition and innovation. Collaborating closely with local shepherds and their community, they strive to revive the use of indigenous wool and natural dyes, in harmonious dialogue with the surrounding forest ecosystem.
