2025
Norlha’s latest store opens in Sanlitun, Beijing. A new and transformed Norden Camp reopens for its first season.
2024
Norlha’s first showrooms in Paris. Norlha’s stockists expand across the world, including Dover Street Market, Mouki Mou, Andreas Murkudis. Norlha is featured in Vogue.
2023
Ritoma’s flagship store and showroom reopens, and Norlha launches its first official home collection.
2022
This year the nomad cooperatives who work closely with Norlha to source yak khullu discover the Golden Brown colour of fibre. Norlha creates its overfelt technique.
2021
Work begins on a new Ritoma flagship store, designed by architect Blake Civello. Norlha’s international reach expands, featured in magazines worldwide, including World of Interiors, WSJ and L’Officiel.
2020
The first ready to wear collection launches with Jo Cook as head designer.
2019
Sabrina Kraus López becomes Norlha’s Head of Creative.
2018
Norlha is awarded the B Corp certification, and filmmaker Ruby Yang launches her film Ritoma in Hong Kong. Norlha produces its first children’s collection, and organises its first scarf giveaway for Ritoma’s 80+ community for Sagadawa – beginning an annual tradition.
2017
Norlha celebrates its 10th anniversary, with 40 employees who have served Norlha since its beginning. Norlha develops its finest 100% yak khullu weave with 46 count thread. The Au Fil du Monde Norlha film by Isabelle Dupuy Chavanat and Jill Coulon is released in Europe.
2016
Norlha’s store in Lhasa is set up. Norlha’s carpet weaving centre at the atelier begins.
2015
Labrang’s Jamyang Zhepa, Ngawang Tsöndrü, whose first incarnation was the founder of Labrang monastery, visits Norlha atelier. Ritoma’s first showroom is opened.
2014
Norlha is established as a brand, launching the website open for orders. The Monk’s collection of traditional Tibetan wear is launched, and Norlha is featured in Elle Deco China.
2013
Norlha reaches 113 employees, 60% are women, and 95% are from Ritoma village. Norlha Guesthouse opens. Experts in felting from Finland and Italy come and work with Norlha’s felting section, sharing skills and techniques, a step in innovation was reached, combined with Tibetan traditional techniques.
2012
Norlha’s felting section is established, and a new wing is built for felting behind the workshop as felt trails begin. The first Norlha store in Labrang is set up.
2011
The advent of the internet arrives in Ritoma. The sewing section is set up and the first production of yak toys are made using upcycled materials, marking the beginning of the circular collection. Norlha adds Balmain, Lanvin, VisVim and Haider Ackerman to its Paris client list. Norlha’s first blanket collection is produced.
2010
Norlha’s first Hermes handwoven order. The atelier begins Norlha’s first hand-knitted pieces.
2009
Norlha’s first order comes from Sonia Rykiel; the first line of light yak and silk scarves are created, and Marie Claire comes to Ritoma to write a feature on Norlha.
2008
Spring arrives on the plateau, and Norlha presents its first products in Paris. Arnys make their first order for scarves, Torcello, for fabrics. The yak and silk weave is created through experimentation, where tensions of yak and silk create an innovative pleating effect.
2007
Training continues in Nepal, where hand spinning is learnt and the purchase of weaving equipment, looms and spinning wheels are sent by truck to Ritoma. By spring, first 10, then 30 recruits are hired and trained to spin and weave in tents. Norlha’s first products are made and work begins on the construction of the Atelier. Norlha’s first weave, the Nomad Classic, is created.
As summer unfolds, Norlha’s first picnic, a yearly tradition, begins. Experiments are made with threads, blending yak wool with silk, wool and cashmere. The first photoshoots are taken on the autumn grassland with artisans. In November, the atelier is ready. Blessed by monks from the local monastery, the tents are then dismantled. Moving in day, November 11th, becomes Norlha’s yearly day of celebration.
2006
Dechen and Kim visit Ritoma in summer to discuss plans for a workshop with the village. A building site at the entrance of the village is chosen. Months later, three people from the village alongside Dechen and Yidam go to Cambodia and train in weaving.
2005
Exploring and discovering yak fibre. Dechen returns to Gannan, working with local nomads to source yak wool. She purchases it from nomad families in Ritoma and Machu, whom she had met the previous year. The raw fibre is dehaired at the base of the Plateau, then sent from Lhasa to Kathmandu in a truck, where the fibre is handspun, then woven into shawls on hand looms.
2004
Dechen’s first location trip to the Plateau. Visiting Ritoma, walking around what back then was a very quiet village, she had her first night in a nomad’s tent.