Men’s Cotton Lepcha Khenja — Himalayan Traditional Jacket

Description

The Lepcha Khenja is a traditional jacket worn by men of the Lepcha (Rong) community — one of the indigenous peoples of the Darjeeling hills, Kalimpong, and Sikkim. It is the garment of cultural ceremony, brought out for Tendong Lho Rum Faat, Nambun harvest gatherings, and the formal social occasions that define Lepcha community life. To wear a Khenja is to carry a specific cultural identity — not a costume, but a living garment.

This version is cut from plain-weave cotton in a natural oatmeal-grey tone — light on the body and suited to the climate of the Darjeeling hills. The defining construction element is the diagonal overlap closure running from the right collar across the chest to the left side, secured with two brass ball-button toggles. A woven geometric trim ribbon featuring triangles, Ramdang diamond cross-hatch patterns, and horizontal stripe bands in black, white, terracotta, and forest green lines the mandarin collar, traces the full diagonal closure band, and finishes each cuff — the trim is the garment’s cultural signature.

The Khenja is worn over a plain inner layer, keeping the jacket as the visual focus. From Kalimpong, where this garment has been worn across generations, we make it possible for Lepcha families and cultural enthusiasts worldwide to wear this piece with the confidence that it was made correctly.