Dehradun, Uttarakhand — In a state where migration from the hills has long emptied villages of their youth, Himalayan Threads, a social enterprise based in Dehradun, is scripting a quiet reversal. Since 2019, the venture has been turning fallen pine needles, wild nettle fibre, hemp, and centuries-old craft knowledge into livelihoods for hundreds of rural women — and into products now reaching consumers, corporates and institutions across India.

Origins: Bridging a Gap Between Heritage and Market

Himalayan Threads was founded in 2019 by Kriti Rawat, a fashion design graduate, after a college craft-documentation assignment led her to a realisation: Uttarakhand’s own textile and craft traditions — Aipan art, Ringal craft, Tamta metalwork, wood carving, handloom weaving and Thulma weaving — had far less market visibility than crafts from other Indian states. The gap, the enterprise found, was not in skill or heritage, but in design development and market access. That insight became the founding premise of Himalayan Threads.

The model sharpened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many rural women lost their only sources of income. Himalayan Threads began training women in villages to harvest and craft with Pirul — the local word for fallen pine needles, a material otherwise blamed for fuelling forest fires — turning an ecological hazard into an economic opportunity.

A Model Rooted in Seven Districts

Himalayan Threads currently runs artisan projects across Uttarakhand:

•  Almora — Pine Craft, Handloom, Aipan
• Chamoli — Nettle Handloom
• Pithoragarh — Hemp Seeds & Hemp Seed Oil
• Pauri — Dhoop, Soaps, Body Oil Candles
• Dehradun — Essential Oils
• Rishikesh & Jaspur — Handloom

The enterprise partners with the non-profit Shail Rachna Artisan’s Society to run structured training programmes, and describes itself as a 99% woman-led organisation — a claim borne out by workshops that have brought together hundreds of rural women, from teenagers to grandmothers, across these districts.

The Product Universe

Himalayan Threads’ catalogue spans four core categories:

• Herbal Wellness — charcoal-free Herbal Dhoop (incense cones) infused with holy Ganga jal in Pine, Deodar, Jasmine, Lemongrass and Sandalwood variants; cold-pressed Hemp Seed Oil and Hemp Seeds; pure essential oils (Basil, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass); handcrafted goat-milk and carrot-vetiver soaps (Navamrit, Saptamrit); and Body Oil Candles in Chocolate and Cedar-Lime.
• Himalayan Nettle (Kandali) Handloom — including the Himalayan Nettle Cap, blending nettle fibre with cotton and traditional Aipan-inspired detailing.
• The Shri Badri Kedar Heritage Scarf — a pure handloom Merino wool scarf featuring digitally rendered artwork of the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples, Mana village dancers, Chaukhamba peak and Nanda Devi, conceived as a tribute to the Char Dham tradition.
• Pine Needle Handicrafts — a wide range of baskets, trays, coasters, roti boxes, penstands, keychains, earrings, lamp shades and mirror frames, doubling as sustainable home décor for both retail and hospitality interiors.
• The brand also offers corporate and custom gifting solutions — branded hampers and bulk orders — for corporate events, government institutions, destination weddings and cultural festivals.

Recognition at the Highest Levels

Himalayan Threads’ work has drawn attention from some of the country’s most prominent public figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand Governor Gen. Gurmit Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, cricketer Kapil Dev, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandi Ben Patel, among others — a reflection of the growing national visibility of Uttarakhand’s craft revival story.

From the Founder’s Desk

“Himalayan Threads is more than a brand — it is an effort to preserve, promote and reimagine the crafts, wellness traditions and natural heritage of Uttarakhand for future generations. It is a journey to EMPOWER, EMBRACE and CREATE,” says Kriti Rawat, Founder, Himalayan Threads.

Himalayan Threads’ message to Uttarakhand’s youth is direct: don’t wait for the “right time” to begin — start today, because consistency and patience are the real keys to success.

About Himalayan Threads

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Dehradun, Himalayan Threads is a social enterprise reviving Uttarakhand’s textile, craft and wellness traditions through indigenous materials — nettle, hemp, Ringaal bamboo and pine needles — combined with contemporary design. The venture works directly with rural artisans and women’s collectives to create sustainable livelihoods and has positioned itself as a bridge between traditional Himalayan craftsmanship and today’s conscious consumer market.

Media Contact Website: www.himalayanthreads.in Instagram: @himalayan_threads Facebook / YouTube: Himalayan Threads WhatsApp: +91 8126473667 Email: info@himalayanthreads.in Address: E-27, Nehru Colony, Dharampur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001