𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐎𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

…𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑

By Tashi Tshewang

The Royal Textile Academy (RTA) has launched a month-long Weaver’s Exchange Program with Pemaling in Samtse, bringing together weavers from two communities in a structured initiative aimed at preserving Bhutan’s traditional textile heritage through hands-on knowledge transfer. Funded by the William H. Geiger Family Foundation Inc., the exchange is being conducted from December 12, 2025, to January 12, 2026, under the Academy’s Weaving into the Future Program.

The program pairs two weavers from Pemaling with two weavers from the Royal Textile Academy for intensive collaborative learning, allowing for mutual skill development. While one Pemaling weaver will share traditional Pemaling wool weaving techniques, the other will receive training in Hor weaving with Trima patterns, a technically demanding practice requiring mastery of shed rod manipulation and precise weft adjustment. The exchange also includes a natural dyeing workshop, further strengthening participants’ technical expertise.

Developed following an onsite consultation visit to Pemaling from April 3 to 8, 2025, the curriculum was designed based on discussions with local weavers to identify opportunities for meaningful collaboration and skills enhancement. By grounding the program in community input and structured practice, the initiative reflects RTA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening traditional weaving knowledge, building capacity among artisans, and ensuring the sustainable preservation of Bhutan’s unique textile traditions through cross-community exchange.

Neten Dorji, Assistant Resource and Entrepreneurship Officer of the Royal Textile Academy, said, “At its core, the Weaver’s Exchange Program is about weavers learning from weavers. We wanted to move away from a classroom-style approach and instead create a space where traditional knowledge is shared through hands-on practice and everyday experience. One important aspect of this exchange is the exposure it creates to different regional weaving methods, including techniques from Pemaling that differ from the backstrap loom weaving commonly practiced at the Academy.”

He said the weavers were selected following close engagement with the Pemaling community, with emphasis placed on practitioners who actively use traditional materials and techniques, are familiar with local weaving methods, and showed a strong willingness to both share their skills and learn new ones, ensuring the exchange remains meaningful and rooted in authentic practice.

He added, “In the long run, this program will help build stronger and more connected weaving communities. It gives weavers exposure to different looms, techniques, and design approaches from across Bhutan, while also enriching the Academy’s knowledge base through the documentation and practice of regional weaving variations, helping keep Bhutanese textiles a living and sustainable tradition.”

Yeshi Pelden, a weaver from the Royal Textile Academy, said, “I had seen the traditional Pemaling wool weaving techniques on social media and was very eager to try weaving them myself, but due to a lack of knowledge, I couldn’t do it on my own. I was curious about the patterns and the techniques, but it was difficult to replicate them without proper guidance.”

She explained that the hands-on exchange with Pemaling weavers has made learning these techniques much easier and far more engaging. “Learning directly from the Pemaling weavers has been an entirely different experience. Seeing them work, asking questions, and practicing alongside them has helped me understand the subtle techniques that are hard to grasp from pictures or videos. It really highlights the importance of learning directly from peers and sharing knowledge in a practical setting.”

Yeshi added, “Now that our friends are teaching us, the process has become enjoyable and very interesting. At the same time, when we teach them some of the techniques we are familiar with, it can be challenging for them at first, because the methods are different. But this is part of the learning process, and we never give up on learning from each other. It is a mutual exchange, and through patience, guidance, and continuous practice, we are all improving our skills and gaining a deeper appreciation for the diversity of Bhutanese weaving traditions.”

Nidup Dema, a weaver with seven years of experience at the Royal Textile Academy, shared, “It is nice to teach and learn from each other. There are many people interested in learning weaving, and we are encouraging our youth to explore the craft and guiding them along the way.”

She said the exchange program provides a unique opportunity for both local and visiting weavers to gain exposure to different weaving techniques, expand their skills, and preserve traditional methods through hands-on practice. The collaborative environment allows participants to learn directly from each other, fostering creativity and strengthening Bhutan’s weaving communities.

She added, “Our two guests here are also learning and enjoying the process, but they find it difficult to learn Hor weaving with the Trima pattern. The two of us will continue guiding them until they master it, ensuring that this opportunity benefits everyone involved and helps keep our weaving traditions alive.”

Menuka Ghalley, a traditional Pemaling wool weaver, said, “I understand that our friends are learning from us, and I am also learning new techniques from them at the same time. The process is very interesting, but it is taking time because I sometimes get puzzled by the patterns. Each design has its own complexity, and understanding the nuances while teaching at the same time can be challenging.”

She added, “Despite the difficulties, this exchange is a valuable opportunity for all of us. It allows us to share our knowledge, learn from each other, and gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of weaving techniques found across Bhutan.”

Sari Maya Ghalley said, “We are learning these techniques for the first time, and it is not easy to pick them up quickly. Each pattern and method take time to understand, and it requires patience and practice to get it right. But every step of the learning process has been exciting and rewarding.”

The Weaver’s Exchange Program provides participants with hands-on exposure to different weaving techniques, allowing them to gain practical skills while fostering knowledge-sharing between communities. By combining learning and teaching, the program strengthens connections among weavers and helps preserve Bhutan’s textile heritage.
Sari Maya concluded, “Once I have mastered these new techniques, I plan to take this knowledge back to my community and teach my friends and younger weavers there. I hope this will inspire them to learn more about traditional weaving and help preserve our cultural heritage. Opportunities like this not only allow us to improve our skills but also give us the chance to build connections, share ideas, and pass on knowledge so that these weaving traditions continue to grow and thrive in the future.”