Honoring Tradition with Dedicated Workshops & Innovative Design

“The Mekuri workshop is more than just a building; it is a center of excellence that honors the past while building a sustainable economic future for the weavers. It represents the perfect synergy of tradition, technology, and community empowerment, thanks to the vision of our partners.”  Consecration Ceremony, August 20, 2025

A Commitment to Sustainable Heritage

The establishment of a new workshop Mekuri underscores Weaving Into the Future’s commitment to the preservation of Bhutanese weaving traditions. By investing directly in community infrastructure, the William H. Geiger Family Foundation is ensuring that the art of thagzo can endure and become a source of dignity, empowerment, and livelihood for women in the most remote corners of Bhutan.

The Mekuri workshop is designed to be a model of how traditional craftsmanship can thrive in the modern era. It will provide the local weaving community with a dedicated space equipped with cutting-edge tools and resources. The new service center will protect machinery and raw materials from the elements while providing women artisans with a dedicated space to support their families and strengthen the rural economy.

Weaving Innovations: Respecting Tradition, Incorporating Efficiency and Ease

Phase IV ground blessing coincided with the unveiling of four innovative textile prototypes developed under the RTA’s Weaving into the Future sponsored by the William H. Geiger Family Foundation. These innovations – a semi-mechanized backstrap loom, a cotton yarn spinner designed to keep fibers intact, a cushioned backrest, and a digital design app for Bhutanese motifs – are designed to empower artisans, ensure quality control, protect the weaver, and safeguard the weaving tradition for generations to come.