Kashmir’s iconic carpet craft faces uncertain future as artisans turn away

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Srinagar: Kashmir’s famous handwoven carpet industry, once a major export and symbol of the region’s craftsmanship, is facing a steady decline as younger generations turn away from the meticulously crafted trade.

Traditional carpets can have hundreds to thousands of knots per square inch and require a team of artists up to a year to finish. They are made from exquisite mulberry silk or sheep wool. However, expert weavers now only make about ₹500 a day, which makes the industry less attractive.

The business, which up until the 1980s was Kashmir's biggest export, has been negatively impacted by declining demand, competition from machine-made carpets, and disruptions brought on by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Three decades ago, there were hundreds of thousands of workers in the industry; today, there are just about 30,000.

Authorities attempt to revive the craft through modern looms and Geographical Indication (GI) tags aimed at protecting genuine Kashmiri carpets from cheap imitations. However, craftsmen worry that a centuries-old custom may gradually vanish in the absence of increased earnings and youth interest.