Stitched Out: How Machine-Made Bedding is Killing Kashmir's Craft

Srinagar, Mar 10: "The new generation is not interested in this art, and soon this art will fade away," says Ghulam Hassan Malla, a septuagenarian craftsman from Nowpora Bandipora. Malla has been making traditional mattresses and quilts for over 60 years, but he fears the skill is slowly disappearing as fewer people take it up.

Malla started learning this craft at the age of 10 from his father and other family members. In the past, handmade quilts and mattresses were a household necessity and craftsmen like him were in high demand. "Back in time, I used to travel to different places because the demand was high," he said.

Unlike modern manufacturers, Malla does not have a workshop or a specific place for his work. He visits people's homes, carrying a small bag of tools, and sets up a temporary workspace. It takes him a full day to make a quilt or a mattress, following the same techniques he learned decades ago. "Every stitch I sew carries a memory of my home and our traditions," Malla said.

However, over the years, the demand for handmade mattresses has declined significantly. "The place where I live was once full of mattress makers, who we call 'Doons.' But slowly, people left this job because they found it inferior and less profitable," Malla added.

The introduction of readymade quilts and mattresses has changed people's preferences. Many now opt for cheaper, machine-made alternatives that are widely available in the market. As a result, traditional craftsmen like Malla struggle to find regular work in this present era.

Despite readymade options, many people in Bandipora, especially the elderly, still prefer handmade bedding. "Older people often ask me to make traditional bedding, saying it's more comfortable and reliable," Malla added.

He believes that unless steps are taken to preserve traditional crafts, this skill may disappear entirely. "If the younger generation does not continue this work, it will disappear completely," he said. The lack of trainees and changing social attitudes toward manual work have further accelerated the decline of this art form.

For now, Malla continues to work, holding onto a craft that once thrived in Nowpora. As he moves from home to home, sewing each stitch by hand, he carries forward a tradition that may soon become a thing of the past.