Cotton, silk, cashmere, precious wool: few places like India are such a treasure chest for textiles lovers. All along the country, from rare Himalayan pashmina to precious Bangalore silk, wonderful, often handmade fabrics are everywhere. But, aside from the creations of high-end fashion brands, it’s quite difficult to find good, western style clothes. Well cut, simple, modern garments exploiting the richness of the local textile production are a rarity, which is probably why I got so excited when I stumbled upon Eternal Creation boutique in Dharamsala first, and in Leh after.
Eternal Creation stores are full of beautiful, colourful women clothes made of the best cotton, silk, wool. Not only: the shop sells interesting nightwear, fabric bags, and insanely cute children fashion. Textiles, lines, and finishing are of great quality, and all the items are hand made, tailored by experienced Tibetan women in a workshop at the foothills of the Himalayas.

Frances Carrington, the Australian designer who's behind Eternal Creation, arrived in India in 1994 as a volunteer and worked with Norbulingka Institute of Dharamsala as a trainer for Tibetan refugees aspiring to become tailors. After that experience, she decided to keep working in India and to create her own collection, and began her adventure with the help of only three tailors. Now her workshop is much bigger, but the ethic behind the production hasn't changed: Frances keeps training the workers, pays them fairly and tries to make their work conditions as good as possible, giving them the all the rights that would hardly been given by different employers, such as maternity leaves.

So, if you happen to be in Dharamsala, Leh (in summer) or Goa (in winter), don't miss the chance of popping into Eternal Creation's store. It's so much fun even just to browse around, and knowing that there is a fair enterprise behind such beautiful clothes makes them even more beautiful!

But if you are not planning to be in any of these places, worry not; Eternal Creation products are sold in over 200 stores all over the world and there's even an online shop! Ready? Time to start shopping!