Continuing Textile Traditions: Himalayan Naari
September 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM US Eastern Time
Join WARP for our September panel discussion on Continuing Textile Traditions, featuring Himalayan Naari, a women’s trust based in the remote mountain village of Chakouri in the Indian Himalayas. Naari was founded on the belief that women in rural India possess inherent value and dignity, despite being constrained by limited social roles. Through the development of the Naari woolen crafts enterprise, the artisans have created a supportive community committed to educating and providing for their families, thereby transforming the future for women and girls in this remote region.
This discussion will take place on Thursday, September 17 at 2:00 PM Eastern.
Please note that if you are unable to attend, please register and a recording will be emailed to you as soon as it is available.
This event is free and open to all. If you would like to attend but are unavailable at the time listed, register anyway and you will receive a link to the recording as soon as it is available.
Panelists:
Dr. Kathleen Bollerud is the US-based founder and director of Himalayan Naari. Her 15 years of leadership have shaped the organization and its team. Like most founders, she wears many hats, managing sales, marketing, and product development. Kathy is a retired psychologist, trained at Harvard University, specializing in leadership development and CEO succession planning. She is a trustee of the Himalayan Education Foundation and serves on the board of Historic Harrisville, a historic national landmark. In addition to daily contact with the Naari India team, she frequently travels to meet with Naari partners and the affiliated school, Himalaya Inter College in Chakouri.
Manvee Vaid has dedicated over 15 years to empowering artisan communities in rural India. She brings a deep appreciation for indigenous arts and crafts, effectively bridging these communities and wider audiences through innovative and sustainable technologies and market connections. Manvee is a US-based director of Himalayan Naari and serves on the boards of Himalayan Education Foundation and India Development Service. In 2024, she founded Lofty Peaks Yarns, the hand-dyeing initiative of Himalayan Naari. Manvee is also the founder of the home goods import company, TerraKlay.
Mamta (Mana) Takula is the Himalayan Naari Director of Indian Operations. She oversees the on-site work of Naari’s Leadership Team and 70 artisans, ensuring smooth and reliable operations. Mamta is responsible for all aspects of the Himalayan Naari program in India, from product & color design and sample development to production, quality control, and shipping. A skilled photographer, she takes many of the photos for the Naari online store and social media.
