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Our Artisans on the Plateau

Our craftsmanship is nothing refined nor sophisticated,

 

It is simply the essences of the pure and honest Tibetan vitality.

Our artisans are Tibetan daughters, mothers, and wives who were once nomads on the grasslands. Due to various reasons, they stopped raising cattle and herds, making their way to work at SHANGDROK. We refer to these women at the workshop as Aunties. 


For our Aunties, leaving the nomadic life on the grassland to be tucked away from the rough rain and sun, and to reconnect again with the fading craftsmanship brings them much happiness in their new way of life. 


By living their lives traditionally not only polished the Tibetan women to be tough and tireless, but also optimistic and cheerful. Chatter and laughter often filled our workshop as the Aunties spin and felt. 


At SHANGDROK, what we are most proud of is not just the handcrafted products, but also our artisans of Aunties whom are also the essence of the Tibetan spirit. 

An Unexpected Dye Studio Beneath the Plateau

Originally, all of our artisans truly lived high up on the plateau.

 

However, during the pandemic, we suddenly found ourselves unable to travel to the Tibetan region. Our communication with Yixi and the artisan aunties could only continue through video calls, while our hands were left with nothing to do. That forced pause — a stretch of blankness — had no clear end in sight. It also prompted us to begin searching for new ways to stay connected with them.

 

We hoped to continue the spirit of handmade craftsmanship, ideally through something that would echo the work they had been doing.
So we decided to use that period of stillness to start learning hand-dyeing here in Taiwan. Even though we were separated by thousands of miles, we felt that if we could keep trying, practicing, and dyeing here, it would be as if we were still working alongside the artisan aunties far away.

 

And so, the dyeing department of Shangdrok was born— starting with pots of steaming water and circles of yarn, we began to explore the possibilities of colors and textures, and little by little, we continued weaving together our imagination of craftsmanship and connection.