Kashmir's handicraft industry is staging a significant revival after years marked by militancy and the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, with exports surpassing ₹1,100 crore and the Jammu and Kashmir government setting an ambitious ₹2,000-crore export target, according to a report by India Narrative. The sector, which sustains 4.45 lakh artisans and craftsmen across the Union Territory, is finding fresh momentum through better market access, quality certification, and global outreach.

Export Numbers and Key Products

Citing the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey 2025-26, the report highlights that woollen shawls alone account for ₹477.25 crore of exports, while carpets contribute ₹317 crore. Together, these two product categories represent the backbone of the sector's foreign-exchange earnings. The overall export figure crossing ₹1,100 crore marks a notable recovery milestone for an industry that had faced severe demand shocks over the past two decades.

Artisans Find New Markets at Home and Abroad

For craftspeople on the ground, the revival is tangible. Gulam Sadiq, a third-generation artisan from Baramulla, described how access to bulk buyers and high-end export markets has transformed prospects for traditional craftspeople. 'Kashmiri artisans now have a direct pathway to bulk buyers and high-end export markets by combining traditional craftsmanship with better materials, contemporary design, quality certification, and access to international showrooms. This is helping transform centuries-old craftsmanship into globally competitive products while preserving the skills, stories, and cultural heritage,' he said, according to the report.

Trader Noor Hasan echoed this optimism, noting that the J&K government has stepped up its global push — setting targets to modernise traditional crafts, improve artisan skills, strengthen market access, and promote Geographical Indication (GI)-certified products internationally. Target international markets reportedly include Dubai, London, Singapore, Paris, New York, Milan, and Tokyo.

Government Policy: Subsidies, Infrastructure, and Quality Control

The J&K government's policy framework envisages export subsidies, marketing support, design development, and infrastructure upgrades. In 2025, approximately 11,000 people were trained in carpet weaving to preserve and revive the craft. In April 2026, the government constituted a Handicrafts Quality Control Council to protect the authenticity and reputation of Kashmiri crafts — a step industry stakeholders say was long overdue.

GI Tagging: Protecting Authenticity and Expanding Reach

GI tagging has emerged as a key tool in the sector's revival. A senior official in the Jammu and Kashmir Industries Department noted that tags have been secured for products including Pashmina shawls, Kani shawls, Sozni Craft, Papier-mache, Walnut Wood Carving, Gabba, Willow bats, and Kashmiri hand-knotted carpets. Even products from other parts of J&K — Basohli Painting, Basohli Pashmina, Rajouri Chikri Wood Craft, Ramban's Sulai Honey, and Udhampur Kaladi — have received GI status, according to the official.

GI certification allows buyers to verify the authenticity of Kashmiri handicrafts, building consumer trust and enabling artisans to access premium market segments both domestically and globally. The report characterises the ₹2,000-crore export target as 'a milestone rather than a destination', signalling that stakeholders view it as a stepping stone to far greater ambitions. With institutional support deepening and global interest in authentic artisanal products growing, the sector appears poised for sustained growth — provided execution keeps pace with aspiration.