The story
Kashmiri shawls became famous under the Mughals, when fine pashmina wool from the goats of Ladakh and Tibet was hand-spun and woven in Srinagar. Kani shawls are woven with small wooden spools (kanis) on a four-pedal loom, with Kanihama village in Budgam as the best-known centre. Sozni embroiderers add fine needlework to plain pashmina. Spinners, weavers, dyers and embroiderers work mostly from home, linked to Srinagar traders and exporters.
In numbers
Kani and Sozni shawl exports stood at ₹1,105 crore over the last three years, as per the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir.
Daily Excelsior — Kashmir shawls, carpet lead in exports · 2025
GI tag
- Kashmir PashminaApplication no. GI Application No. 46IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
- Kani ShawlApplication no. GI Application No. 51IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
- Kashmir Sozani CraftApplication no. GI Application No. 48IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
- Kashmir CrewelApplication no. GI Application No. 1047IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
- Kashmir TweedApplication no. GI Application No. 1048IP India — Registration Details of Geographical Indications
Ways in for a newcomer
- Selling GI-certified pashmina online with traceable labels
- Dyeing, washing and finishing services for weavers
- Design partnerships for modern stoles
- Craft tourism in Kanihama and Srinagar
Problems the cluster faces
- Machine-made and blended fakes sold as pashmina
- Low wages drive young weavers away
- Raw pashmina supply and price
- Export demand hit by global conflicts
Businesses to start here
Shawls, Stoles, Scarves and Wraps →Zari and Silk Embroidery →Handloom and Handicrafts Retail Shop →Wool Felt Products →