At Pashmina Conclave 2026, Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta calls for end to raw material exodus, demanding the world’s finest fibre be processed, branded, and sold from Ladakh itself
Ladakh has drawn an ambitious blueprint to transform its legendary Pashmina from a raw export into a globally certified luxury brand, with Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta declaring at the Pashmina Conclave 2026 in Leh that the fibre must be “processed, branded, and marketed from Ladakh.”
The conclave united shepherds, artisans, cooperatives, designers, and government officials to address a longstanding economic irony Ladakh produces 40–50 tonnes of the world’s finest Pashmina annually, yet most of its profit flows to traders outside the region.
Gupta outlined plans for modern quality testing, fibre grading, international certification, and sustainable production frameworks, while urging Ladakhi youth to harness design, technology, and entrepreneurship to carry the brand global.
Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra drew parallels with the AMUL cooperative model as an inspiration for restructuring Ladakh’s Pashmina value chain from the ground up.
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