Kashmir Handicrafts

The vast cultural and ethnic diversity of Kashmir has enabled a variety of motifs, techniques and crafts to flourish on this land. The various handicrafts are in tune with its age old splendid civilization, which has been perfected over centuries. The diverse articles ranging from woolen textiles, pashmina shawls, embroidered suits, Kashmir silk saris, pappier machie, wood carving, hand knotted carpets etc. are crafted by highly skilled craftsmen, creating distinct products.

Kashmir Silk Carpets & Rugs

Hand knotted silk carpets of Kashmir are renowned for their shine, softness and fine workmanship in the world. These silk carpets display fine workmanship and intricate designs. The motifs and patterns are inspired form nature to hunting scenes, bird and animal motifs or thematic designs like historical romances. Apart from carpets, hand knotted rugs such as felt rug are made from beaten wool, which is then embroidered over, is an important branch of the kasida industry of Kashmir.

Kashmir Shawls

The history of Kashmir Shawls is very interesting and old perhaps. It is a work of delicacy, tremendous concentration and too much of patience. The decoration is formed by weft threads interlocked where the colors change, the weavers passing them between the warps using bobbins around, which the variously colored threads are wound. The raw material for pashmina is brought from and taken to for hand-weaving followed by embroidery and finishing. Kashmiri shawls are rare and unique, due to its peculiar charm that is derived from the symphony of color schemes depicting architectural and mythological figures interwoven with landscape designs.

Kashmir Embroidery