CIRCULAR COLLECTION

Norlha is releasing a limited range of one-off scarves, handwoven from repurposed yak khullu and silk-blend yarns left over from previous collections.

Every thread of Norlha yarn is the product of an immense amount of care and consideration. Khullu is sourced and selected from local nomad co-operatives and silk is responsibly sourced from Zhejiang before being carefully combined with khullu to create blended yarns. Norlha treats these fibres and threads as precious materials that should never be wasted, and so the atelier retains any unused yarns to eventually weave into one-of-a-kind pieces. This practice also aligns with Norlha’s commitment to sustainable, zero-waste production. Through reusing leftover materials, Norlha can create luxurious, timeless pieces while adhering to a belief in mindful manufacturing.

Norlha co-founder Dechen Yeshi says:

‘Our first circular collection was created in 2010, when we were partnering with luxury fashion houses, completing orders for companies ranging from Sonia Rykiel to Balmain. After several years of these collaborations, we found ourselves with almost 100kg of leftover threads. Our solution was to group the threads into ‘families’ and have the weavers do their magic, creating pieces that were truly unique. 
The circular collections are always a welcome respite from adhering to the guidelines of a specific collection. The workrooms are flung into an abundance of colour and texture and there is an excitement in not knowing exactly how the result will turn out; we are making creations that have never been seen before nor will ever be re-created. And we find the greatest sense of fulfilment in giving life and beauty to threads that would otherwise remain unused.’

This year’s circular collection celebrates Norlha’s Nomad thread – the first yarn Norlha developed after its founding in 2007 and the thread used to create Norlha’s signature Nomad scarves. Many of the scarves in this circular collection are woven from this yarn, resulting in a fabric that is incredibly durable, soft and warm. As these scarves are woven from so many different coloured threads, many have a striped design, which is inspired by the contrasting bands of colour seen in the traditional ‘pangden’, or apron, worn by women across central Tibet.