Anantnag, August 22 (TNA) Kashmir’s GI-tagged Kani and Pashmina shawls are drawing international tourists, boosting demand for authentic traditional handicrafts. The Geographical Indication (GI) tag is giving Kashmir’s traditional shawl industry a fresh boost, with international tourists showing growing interest in authentic handicrafts, particularly Kani and Pashmina shawls.
Artisans and shawl manufacturers in Anantnag said the GI certification was helping showcase Kashmir’s centuries-old craftsmanship to a global audience while protecting the authenticity and reputation of Kani and Pashmina shawls.
Kashmir’s traditional shawl industry is one of the valley’s most famous handicraft sectors, built around fine pashmina shawls and intricate techniques such as kani weaving and sozni embroidery. It has deep historical roots, centuries of patronage, and remains both a cultural symbol and an important source of livelihood in the region.
Historical roots
The craft is widely traced to the 15th century, when Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin is credited with encouraging shawl weaving in Kashmir and bringing skilled artisans to the valley. Some accounts also link its development to wider Persian and Central Asian influences, especially through the transmission of textile skills into Kashmir.
Kashmiri shawls later became highly prized in Europe, where they were admired for their softness, warmth and craftsmanship. That global appeal helped turn the shawl into one of Kashmir’s best-known cultural exports.
Craft and materials
Authentic pashmina comes from the fine undercoat of the Changthangi goat of Ladakh, and the yarn is traditionally hand-spun and hand-woven in Kashmir. The process is slow and skill-heavy, which is why genuine shawls are valued far above machine-made imitations.
Two of the best-known techniques are kani and sozni. Kani shawls are woven with small wooden bobbins and a coded pattern called talim, while sozni involves fine needle embroidery over the shawl’s surface.