Introducing Norlha

Committed to sustainable development, Norlha works with local artisans to create the world’s finest yak khullu scarves, clothing and homewares. Their story is one of shared vision, meaningful collaboration, and a belief in taking things slowly…

Founded by mother and daughter team Kim and Dechen Yeshi in 2007, Norlha is the first yak khullu atelier of its kind, located a small valley in the beautifully remote Tibetan Plateau. Embracing ethical practices above all else, Norlha carefully collects Tibet’s precious yak wool and employs traditional techniques to craft their luxuriously soft and warm scarves, clothing, and homewares that have put the rural village of Ritoma on the global fashion map.

Tibetan-American anthropologist Kim and her daughter Dechen place immense importance on the animal without which their creations would not exist: the yak. These majestic yet gentle creatures, affectionately known as ‘Nornag’, or ‘black jewel’ have a quiet strength and timeless beauty that embodies the ethical philosophies behind the brand. Indeed, the word Norlha itself translates to “wealth of the gods” in the Tibetan language, a phrase which further demonstrates the animal’s revered status as a precious natural resource. Throughout history, locals of the Tibetan Plateau have lived amongst the yak in a nomadic existence and, respecting these traditions, Norhla uses the yak khullu for their entire collection, selecting the wool from across the Plateau before it is hand-spun in the grasslands of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Patience is key to the harvesting of yak khullu – or underdown – which is prized across Central Asia and beyond for its durability, softness, and ability to stand the test of time. Unlike other animals, the yaks are never clipped or combed for their wool, rather their soft khullu can only be gathered when they molt in late spring. From their atelier in Ritoma Village, a nomadic settlement, Norlha works with local artisans who collect the dense khullu by hand, ensuring that the production is entirely sustainable. The soft wool yarns are then dyed, using a palette of colours obtained by natural pigments made by a team of craftspeople. This entire production philosophy follows the lifeline of the yak and respectfully avoids disrupting the natural cycles of their life or stripping them of their natural protection over the cold winter months. A labour-intensive process, certainly, but one with genuine bonds to the natural world that yields incredible results.

It’s been quite the journey for the Yeshi family, who 17 years ago imagined the possibilities for working with Tibet’s precious wool. Today the atelier is home to over 100 experienced local employees across seven different departments, each dedicated to a different stage in the production process, combining tradition and modernity through techniques, technology, and the art of the handcraft. Norhla’s finished garments and accessories have a delightfully tactile feel, with rugged weaves in earthy tones that echo the tundra and grasslands of their adopted home, as well as rich red and indigo hues. Earlier this year, the brand opened a flagship store in Ritoma, despite the nearest major city, Chengdu, being the best part of a day away – a further testament to the understated allure of the Norlha collection.