aara grows from Heritage Weaves & Crafts, a Manali workshop
of two decades. Its weaves never left the valley, until now.
Our mark is a weave: the taana and the baana, warp and weft,
the two threads that cross to make any cloth. It is how every shawl is made,
and how every story here is told.
The Story
From a strip of wool to a Himalayan icon.
The Kullu shawl was not always the bright, patterned heirloom you know today.
Its journey mirrors the valley itself: humble, resourceful, and quietly proud.
Before the 1930s
The humble patti
Valley folk wove plain woollen strips called patti to keep out the
cold, narrow bands in the natural greys, browns and whites of mountain sheep.
Men stitched them into coats; women draped them as pattus.
The 1940s
Colour arrives
Master weavers from the neighbouring Bushehar region brought vivid geometric
motifs. Local hands adopted them, and the plain pattu bloomed into
the patterned border the Kullu shawl is loved for.
1942
The first full shawl
In the Valley of the Gods, the actress Devika Rani admired the local weaving.
At her encouragement, master weaver Sheru Ram wove the first full-size Kullu
shawl, and an industry was born.
A shared heritage
Cousins from Kinnaur
Many motifs trace back to the intricate shawls of Kinnaur, where colour holds
meaning: white for water, yellow for earth, red for fire, green for air, blue
for the sky. Kullu weavers simplified and enlarged them into the bands we know.
Today
A protected craft
The Kullu shawl now carries a Geographical Indication, a mark
that protects its makers and assures you of the real thing: handwoven, in this
valley, by people who learned it from the generation before.
The Craft
Taana & Baana
Everything we make begins on a khaddi, a hand-operated loom with no
electricity at all. The weaver’s hands and feet do the work; the clack of the
wooden shuttle is its only music.
The mark of a true handweave
On a genuine Kullu shawl, the pattern is part of the cloth, not printed or
stitched on after. Turn it over: the design reads the same on both sides.
Small irregularities are not flaws. They are the mark of a human hand.
taana: the warp, the lengthwise threads, the backbone.baana: the weft, the colour the weaver carries across.
From fleece to shawl
01
Mountain flocks
Hardy sheep graze the high meadows, led up and down the slopes each season by Gaddi shepherds.
02
Shearing
Wool is gathered twice a year, in spring and autumn, lightening the flock and yielding the season's fibre.
03
Carding
Cleaned fleece is combed until the tangled clumps become soft, aligned rolls ready to be spun.
04
Spinning
Fibre is drawn and twisted into yarn, on the wheel, the spindle, and the patient hands of the valley.
05
Dyeing
Yarn takes its colour from earthy vegetable dyes, or safe, azo-free shades that stay true for years.
06
Weaving
Thread by thread, the shawl is built on the loom, its borders added by hand, motif by motif.
An ode to the craftswomen of Manali
In their hands, the valley keeps warm.
When the snow seals the passes, the looms wake. Through winter, the women of
Manali spin, knit and weave by firelight.
Every shawl carries their patience: a counted thread, a twisted tassel, a little
of this valley's spirit. Wear aara, and you wear their work.
The Collection
What we weave.
From everyday warmth to wearable heirlooms, each piece handmade and rooted in
this valley. Photography of our pieces is on its way.
Photo coming soon
Kullu Shawls & Stoles
The valley's signature: soft wool with bright, handwoven geometric borders.
Photo coming soon
The Lohi
A large, plain men's shawl in natural tones, one wrap to see out the winter.
Photo coming soon
The Kullu Topi
The cap of the Pahari people: a woven band of colour, worn with pride.
Photo coming soon
Mufflers & Scarves
The same heritage patterns, lighter and easy to wear, woven and hand-knit.
Photo coming soon
Handwoven Jackets
Tweed-like wool, tailored into modern coats with a thread of Kullu pattern.
Photo coming soon
Fine Wool & Pashmina
Featherlight fine-count shawls and true pashmina, luxury that folds to nothing.
Photo coming soon
Modern Silhouettes
Capes, ponchos and overcoats: heritage cloth, reimagined for everyday wear.
Our online store is on its way. Until it opens, speak with us
directly and we will help you find the right piece.
Not all warmth is the same. Here is a little of what we work with, so you can
choose with confidence and care for it well.
Local & Merino wool
Sturdy Himalayan sheep give honest, rustic warmth. Fine merino, soft and
smooth against the skin, is woven in for shawls that are warm without weight.
Pashmina
The finest cashmere, from goats of the high Himalayas. Astonishingly light
and gloriously warm, a true pashmina shawl can pass through a wedding ring.
Angora
That cloud-soft, haloed fluff comes from angora rabbits, not goats, as many
think. We blend it with wool to keep its softness and add strength.
How to know it's handwoven
The pattern reads the same on both faces. Edges are firm, with a touch of
imperfection. No plastic sheen, just the texture of real wool, and the small
variations that say a person, not a machine, made this.
Caring for wool
Wool loves to be left alone. Air it rather than wash it. When needed, a
gentle cold hand-wash and a flat dry in the shade. Never wring it. Store it
clean, with a sprig of cedar or lavender, and it will keep you warm for years.
Visit us
Come to the Experience Center at Naggar.
The best way to understand a handwoven shawl is to feel it. Step into our space
in Naggar and find the piece that's meant for you.
Where
aara by Heritage, Naggar - Manali Road, Near Sarsai, Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Open
Everyday, 9 AM to 8 PM
What to expect
Looms on display, our full collection, and a warm welcome.
