Kashmir’s handicrafts heritage faces existential threat amid machine-made invasion: Vicky Shaw
Srinagar, Sep 14: Kashmir’s famed handicraft industry, once a symbol of cultural pride and a vital pillar of the economy, is facing an existential crisis as machine-made imitations flood markets and threaten to erode centuries-old traditions.
“Kashmiri handicrafts are not just products; they are pieces of our identity. Every shawl, carpet, wood carving or copper item carries history, patience, and emotion that machines can never replicate. But today, this living heritage is on the edge of collapse,” said A P Vicky Shaw, Chairman of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Kashmir.
Shaw, who belongs to a family involved in handicrafts for over a century, recalled the golden era of the 1980s when Kashmiri carpets were among India’s proudest exports.
“Back then, our products commanded global admiration. Today, orders that once sustained thousands of artisans are being replaced by machine-made items produced in industrial hubs from Zakura and Ganderbal to Amritsar and Ludhiana,” he said.
Warning that Kashmir risks repeating Iran’s mistakes, Shaw said: “Iran’s handwoven carpet industry never recovered after machine-made alternatives flooded the market in the 1960s and 70s. We must not let that happen here.”
He expressed concern over the growing practice of selling machine-made products as handmade. “This deceit exploits artisans and cheats buyers. A nexus of heavy commissions and fake ‘artisan’ fronts has created a mafia that threatens to damage Kashmir’s brand worldwide,” Shaw noted.
Calling for immediate intervention, Shaw said: “We need a dedicated marketplace in Kashmir exclusively for certified handmade products, strict laws against mislabeling, buyer awareness campaigns, social security and fair wages for artisans, and marketing support with quality certifications. Handmade and machine-made can co-exist, but not at the cost of our artisans.”
He stressed that preserving the craft is both an economic and cultural necessity. “When an artisan puts down his loom or chisel, it’s not just the loss of a livelihood—it’s the silencing of a tradition,” Shaw said.
“The government must enact robust policies, dedicate budgets for artisan welfare, ensure authentic market access, and dismantle counterfeit networks. At the same time, citizens must choose authenticity over cheap imitations. Only then can this heritage survive,” Shaw added.
