Endorsing Desi Oon

Brinda Gill discovers India’s indigenous wools, locally called Desi Oon, which hold potential for use in the apparel industry

- Brinda Gill

In the heart of winter, wrapping a woollen muffler or shawl around oneself, wearing a cardigan or coat, and putting on gloves and socks brings warmth and comfort. In the past decades, stores have offered a choice of branded woollen garments made with imported wools or wools from hybrid Indian sheep (cross-bred with foreign sheep) with tags mentioning the attributes of the fibre.

Yet, in recent years, with increased awareness, India’s indigenous wools that have stirred the interest of many toward this natural resource of the country, had previously gone unnoticed. While wool from indigenous sheep has long been processed, hand-spun and hand-woven for creating shawls or coats, their use has mostly been for local communities.

Yet, with a revival in interest in all things Indian, apparel from indigenous wools or desi oon sourced from indigenous sheep, goats, camels and yaks are finding a place on shelves and in closets. Artisans and designers are working with it to create a range of woollen garments that have been appreciated by customers for their raw, earthy appeal.

INDIGENOUS SHEEP

Across the country – from snow covered mountain slopes in Ladakh and the scenic ranges in Jammu, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to the vast stretches of the Rann of Kutch with sparse vegetation, the rugged Deccan plateau in central peninsula India, the picturesque Nilgiri Mountains of Tamil Nadu and other areas — indigenous sheep naturally grazing in open lands, farm fallows and grasslands are a common sight.