Kashmir, August 24,2026- Kashmir Handicrafts GI Tag certification is giving international tourists greater confidence to buy authentic Kani and Pashmina shawls directly from local artisans, boosting both the Valley’s heritage economy and its tourism appeal
Kashmir’s centuries-old Kani and Pashmina shawls are witnessing renewed global attention, with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag emerging as a key factor giving international tourists the confidence to buy authentic handicrafts directly from local artisans, boosting both the Valley’s heritage economy and its tourism appeal.
The trend was recently on display in Anantnag, where, following a visit to the popular hill resort of Pahalgam, an American tourist went on to explore Kashmir’s traditional handicrafts and purchased an old-style Kashmiri shawl. Speaking to DD News, she said she was specifically drawn to Kashmir’s handicrafts, particularly its traditional shawls, and credited the GI tag with giving international visitors greater confidence to purchase products they can now be assured are authentic Kashmiri goods rather than imitations. She further described the GI certification as a factor that actively draws visitors like her to Kashmir specifically to shop for genuine handicrafts.
Artisans and shawl manufacturers in Anantnag echoed similar sentiments, noting that GI certification has been instrumental in reviving buyer trust after years of market flooding by machine-made imitations and cheaper substitutes passed off as genuine Pashmina.
The GI tag, awarded to Kani Shawl and Pashmina among the first batch of Kashmiri crafts to receive the certification, verifies that a product possesses distinct qualities found only in its specific geographic region — in this case, the Kashmir Valley. For Pashmina specifically, the tag certifies that the shawl is made from 100% pashmina fibre, obtained from the under-fleece of the Changthangi mountain goat, and is hand-spun and hand-woven using traditional techniques by artisans of Jammu & Kashmir. Registered artisans, organised under a collective known as “Tahafuz,” submit their shawls to the Pashmina Testing & Quality Certification Centre at the Craft Development Institute in Srinagar, where each piece is tested and issued a unique GI-coded stamp traceable to the artisan.
Kani shawls, woven using small wooden sticks called “kanis” instead of a shuttle, remain among the most labour-intensive crafts in the Valley, often taking months to complete a single piece. The craft’s living heritage was underscored earlier this year when veteran Kani weaver Farooq Ahmad Mir, who has dedicated over six decades to the art, was conferred the Padma Shri in recognition of his contribution to preserving the technique.
Beyond Kani and Pashmina, Kashmir’s GI portfolio has expanded significantly in recent years. Officials from the Handicrafts Department noted that, in addition to Kani Shawl and Pashmina, crafts such as Sozni, Paper-Machie, Walnut Wood Carving, Khatamband, and Hand-Knotted Carpets had already received GI certification, with a further batch of crafts subsequently added to take the total tally to fifteen. The department has said its focus will now shift toward securing GI registration for six more crafts, including Copperware, Silverware, Houseboats, Tapestry, Kashmiri Tilla, and Aari-Stapple embroidery, in an effort to revive fading crafts and boost artisan incomes.
To further support the ecosystem, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has announced a Minimum Support Price for GI-certified handmade Pashmina shawls, aimed at sustaining traditional weaving techniques and ensuring fair compensation for artisans amid competition from machine-made alternatives.
Tourism stakeholders say the GI-driven confidence among foreign buyers is translating into a tangible economic ripple effect — international visitors are increasingly extending their itineraries beyond scenic spots like Pahalgam and Gulmarg to include visits to artisan workshops and handicraft emporiums, directly channelling tourism revenue into the hands of weavers and craftsmen. With authenticity now backed by government certification, industry voices believe Kashmir’s handloom sector is positioned for a sustained revival, one that intertwines cultural preservation with economic upliftment for thousands of artisan families across the Valley.