‘Tubji’ in Ladakhi means square. This small carpet is made from hand-spun sheep wool yarn, woven by settled Changpa nomads with social enterprise We are KAL close to the city of Leh, India. It has a soft, yet solid hand feel of a carpet, just like a mattress!

• 48cm H x 40 cm W

• 100% sheep wool from Ladakh  

• Spun and woven by settled nomads in the traditional Changthang style, on a portable backstrap loom characteristic for the nomadic communities

• This mini carpet is great to use as a bedside rug, for smaller rooms or as a wall hanging

• Weight: 0.8 kg

• Making time: farming: 1 year; spinning: 6 days by one spinner; weaving: 2 days by one weaver

• The type of carpet is called "Tsug Den" and traditionally used as a mattress to sleep and to sit on

• Irregularities in the thickness of yarn are characteristic to the craft of hand spinning

The Impact

The Changpa community faces many challenges. Heavy migration to the city threatens their nomadic lifestyle and crafts, including carpet weaving. We are KAL works with the Changpa community in Ladakh, helping provide an income stream for settled Changpa weavers and encourage cultural preservation. Read more about Changpa weaving here.