RENUKA RAI | Thimphu
For generations, sheep sustained families in the remote villages of Nakeling and Shingdregang under Pemaling Gewog in Sipsu, Samtse. Their wool clothed families, their milk and butter nourished households, and sheep-rearing shaped the rhythm of village life.
Today, that centuries-old tradition is under threat. Fewer young people are willing to spend months herding sheep across remote mountain pastures. The number of herding groups has declined, and traditional knowledge that once passed naturally from one generation to the next is slowly fading.
But a community-led initiative is working to change that. Through the Pemaling Wool Heritage initiative,30 member is transforming sheep wool into handcrafted carpets, jackets, hats, dolls, bags, and other products, creating new economic opportunities while preserving one of southern Bhutan’s oldest traditions.
Leading the effort is Jhelen Ghalley, chairman of Pemaling Wool Heritage, who returned home after working as a cultural heritage photographer in Dubai.
“While working in Dubai, I saw how people from around the world valued traditional culture and heritage,” Jhelen said. “Many visitors travelled long distances just to see traditional lifestyles. That inspired me to think about our own culture and what we could do to preserve it.”
When he returned to Pemaling, Jhelen saw potential in something the community had long taken for granted its sheep wool.
“We already had the raw materials,” he said. “Almost every household keeps sheep. What was missing was a way to create value from what we already had.”
After discussing the idea with community members, especially women, the initiative quickly gained support.
“The women supported the idea immediately,” Jhelen said. “I have always been interested in social service, and I believed this project could help create opportunities for local people.”
The villages of Nakeling and Shingdregang, with a combined population of around 400, remain heavily connected to sheep-rearing traditions. Nearly every household owns sheep, while three active groups of herders continue the centuries-old practice of seasonal migration.
Each year, herders move their flocks to grazing grounds near the Zompelri Ridge during the summer months before returning to lower elevations as winter approaches. The cycle has been repeated for generations.
However, sheep-rearing is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. “There used to be four groups of sheep herders, but now there are only three,” Jhelen said. “Young people do not want to spend long periods living in remote grazing areas.”
Today, each remaining group manages between 400 and 600 sheep. Recognising the need to create new value from sheep products, the community approached the Royal Textile Academy (RTA) for support. Following field visits, including a two-day trek to the summer grazing areas, the academy provided training in natural dyeing and wool processing.
Initially, artisans produced only black-and-white wool products. Today, they use natural dyes to create a wider range of colourful products with improved quality.
“At first, our products were simple and the quality was not very good,” Jhelen said. “Now we have improved significantly, but we still need more training.”
Beyond wool crafts, the community also produces purified sheep butter traditionally used for medicinal purposes and skincare. Other local products include millet, local wines, Nakey Azay made from wild ferns, sheep sausage, and sheep cheese.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The initiative lacks modern equipment needed to process wool efficiently. The absence of carding machines means much of the work is done manually, making production slow and labour-intensive.
Limited technical training, inconsistent quality standards, and restricted market access continue to constrain growth. Wool products also face competition from factory-made alternatives and remain relatively unknown in Bhutan’s wider market.
“We have the resources and the interest from the community,” Jhelen said. “What we need now is more training, better equipment, and stronger market support.”
The initiative is placing particular focus on Nakeling village, one of the most remote settlements in the gewog. With limited opportunities for cash-crop cultivation and few alternative sources of income, many residents are forced to seek work elsewhere.
The wool enterprise aims to provide a sustainable livelihood option closer to home.
Looking ahead, Jhelen hopes to expand into bamboo and fern-based products and develop community-based cultural tourism.
“I believe people would be interested in experiencing our culture, our sheep-rearing traditions, and our way of life,” he said. “Southern Bhutan has unique cultural heritage that deserves greater recognition.”
For the people of Pemaling, the initiative represents more than a business.
It is an effort to preserve a fading tradition, support local livelihoods, and ensure that the knowledge passed down by generations of sheep herders is not lost.
As handcrafted wool products leave the villages for markets beyond Samtse, they carry with them more than wool and craftsmanship. They carry the story of a community determined to keep its heritage alive in a rapidly changing world.
