Norlha: The Beginnings of an Extraordinary Enterprise

262 Pages·2015·47.944 MB·English

by  Kim Yeshi

NORLHA
THE BEGINNINGS
OF
AN EXTRAORDINARY ENTERPRISE
BY KIM YESHI
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Dechen and Drukmo Kyi walking in the Autumn
pasture, frolicking yaks in the foreground
Next page; the Ritoma pasture in late summer
Norlha
The Beginnings of an Extraordinary Enterprise
By Kim Yeshi
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Photographs by Dechen Yeshi and Kim Yeshi
And Michael Crouser, Philippe Le Berre, Marcella Echavarria, Valerie Jentey, Noryang Yeshi,
Yidam Kyap and Genam Yeshi
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Norlha
The Beginnings of an Extraordinary Enterprise
By Kim Yeshi
Edited by Matthew Kapsner
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TO MY PARENTS
© Norlha 2015 All Rights reserved.
This work was supported by the Fetzer Institute.
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AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank all the friends who have contributed to Norlha’s existence and success. First and
foremost, the Lemelson Foundation of Portland, Oregon, particularly Mrs. Dorothy Lemelson
whose unwavering support of Norlha has given us not only hope and courage, but the means to
succeed. To my friend Cecile Bigeon, whose determination made Norlha’s name in France. In
China, to Mr. Han Tienchen, for sharing our vision and trusting our goals, and Sherry Liu for her
continuous support.. I would also like to thank my family, especially my husband, Kalsang Yeshi,
for believing that we could make a difference, and most of all, to Dechen, for never straying from
the path I was leading her down, however ludicrous it may have seemed. Finally, to all those
unnamed friends who have helped us along the way and who believe in the good motivation and
altruism that are the driving force of our success.
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7 Aknowledgements

11 Introduction
13 Preface
Norlha
Part I Before Norlha
The Beginnings of an Extraordinary Enterprise
19 Where I Come From
By Kim Yeshi
21 Our First Project
Monks and Dolls
29 Our Second Project
Contents
Artists and Craftsmen
33 Our Family
Part II Building the Base
37 Laying the Foundation
41 Exploring the Luxury Market
42 Dechen and Genam in Amdo
50 My First Visit
55 Setting Things Up
57 Training
Nomads in Siem Reap, Nepal Interlude
61 Norlha’s Place in the Larger System
63 Building Norlha
72 Norlha’s Role in the Context of Altruism
75 Our Partners
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Part III Around Norlha Part VI People
Place and Background
223 Norlha in Context
78 Ritoma 225 The Norlha Team
83 Tso 231 Norlha Families
85 Labrang Dunko and Drukmo Kyi
93 Culture 237 Tenzin Gyamtso and Acha Pagde
95 The Monastic Community 241 Jigshe Tso
98 The Lay Community 243 Dugya Bum and Lhamo Tso
101 The Horse 247 Serwo Kyap and Lumotso
105 Laptse 249 The Norlha Family
109 Nomadic Life The Annual Picnic
The Ecosystem, 253 Ritoma, Eleven Years Later
Nomadic Life in the Context of Change
Part VII The Future
Part IV Making
260 Snowball Effect, Replication
121 The Challenges of Sustainability 261 Conclusion
125 The Yak
129 The Raw Material
135 Spinning and Weaving
141 Felting
Part V Creating
148 First Creations, First experiences
155 Developing the Products, Design
169 The Norlha Brand Statement
181 A Tibetan Brand
189 Colors and Textures from the Environment
216 The Media, Awards and Recognition
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