TRADITIONAL WISDOM + DESIGN THINKING
Traditional processes & techniques celebrate the knowledge of the ages and reflect them through the skills of our artisans and growers. Their intuitive understanding of the natural harmony between the nature of geography, the seasons and the resources coalesce into a symphony of human evolution and art. For ages, Indian materials & handicrafts have been celebrated and valued, and influenced all cultures.
This uniqueness and flavor of India, is slowly being undermined due to the monotony and noise of industrial and mass production, which is rapidly replacing the indigenous and native knowledge with a monotony and coldness of machine-made lives.
The modern context has made us realize that what’s good for the environment and for nature, is invariably also good for us. Hence, our core respect and attitude are reflected in the techniques that we adopt. We are blown away by the skills that have withstood this tide of consumerism, and we bring to it a collaboration with the best design minds in the country, working with remote tribes and their ingenious and intuitive understanding of materials and their transformation into objects of daily life for a global sensitivity.
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“As consumers, we have so much power to change the world by just being careful in what we buy.” – Emma Watson
PASHMINA WOOL
A Royal allure.
One of the most sought-after fabrics in the world, the wool that is used in weaving the Pashmina Shawl is obtained from the Changthangi Goat found in Ladakh. This goat is exotic and is only found there, 15000 feet above sea level in Ladakh - Jammu and Kashmir, making the art of weaving Pashmina even rarer and revered all over the world.
Originating from a place where winter temperatures drop to -40 degree Celsius, our Pashmina products are completely handknit in Jhiri and Lug Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Pashmina is an extremely difficult fabric to work with and what we see as an alluring piece of luxury has very humble beginnings. Weaving a single piece of Pashmina involves a multitude of herders and craftspeople and helps sustain an economic mountain ecosystem.
Raison d'etre
“As consumers, we have so much power to change the world by just
being careful in what we buy.” – Emma Watson
"
A Natural, Inclusive & Sustainable Lifestyle Alternative.
We’re blown by how the artisanal grit have withstood the tide of consumerism and the test of time. We’re geared towards these practices - to bring these skills to the fore through collaborations with the best art, design & craft minds in the country.
Through these engagements, we create artisanal products for a globally mindful audience. We provide a slower alternative to those tired of the fast fashion, FMCG and over-processed way of life.
At the core of this partnership is the training and co-creation by designers with remote artisanal communities to be self-reliant and responsible towards their sustainable growth.
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We’re inspired by our culture and traditions.
Great Places
India has the richest, most ancient and diverse landscapes in the world.
This diversity is also reflected in the multitude of cultures that one can find across the subcontinent. It is our knowledge of nature and surrounding ecosystem which shape our values and the lifestyles that we adopt.
The beliefs & traditions that form society are based on a deep-rooted understanding of the natural cycles- of seasons, climate and ecological systems of the place. We aim to retain & renew some of this last remaining wisdom that flourish in remote areas among the local population, and bring it into our modern lifestyle.
We ow it to the places around us for their natural bounty that gives us all we need and more. After all, apart from nourishment, shelter and companionship, it is stories that we need the most.
Local Practices
Traditional processes & techniques celebrate knowledge of the ages and reflect them through the skills of our artisans. Their intuitive understanding of the natural harmony between geography, the seasons and the resources coalesce into a symphony of human evolution and art. For ages, Indian ingredients & handicrafts have been celebrated and valued, and influenced all cultures.
This uniqueness and flavor of India, is slowly being undermined due to the monotony and noise of industrial and mass production, which is rapidly replacing the indigenous and native knowledge with a monotony and coldness of machine-made lives.
We are blown away by the skills that have withstood this tide of consumerism, and we bring to it a collaboration with the best design minds in the country, working with remote tribes and their ingenious and intuitive understanding of materials and their transformation into objects of daily life for a global sensitivity.
The Humane Collective
The dream to design a better world, starts with a team of visionaries who are inspired to do the impossible
Responsible Partners
"Coming together is the beginning,
Staying together is the processes,
Working together is success."
For us, the measure of progress and its subsequent success has always been the people that we connect with and the numerous hands that help us co-create. It's these age-old traditions and inherent skills that help us build communities and preserve practices. We believe in the idea of a collective co-creation of value for an ecological system. The harmony between Nature, Society and Economics is the basis of this collaboration.
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The Humane Collective came into being serendipitously with 20 years of systems design & experimentation + professional practice at Lemon Design and 70 years of social enterprise at Bhuttico & The Wool Knitters.
We are inspired by each other’s honesty, the ethics that enabled this partnership and a deep-rooted meticulous work culture.
The Humane Collective
VPO 3313, Bhutti, Bhuntar, Kullu & Manali, Himachal Pradesh, 175126
Open hours
MON -SAT, 9am - 6pm
SUNDAY CLOSED