A Mughal favourite, a Kashmiri heirloom: Inside the intricate world of Kashmir’s Kani shawls
When we think of Kashmir, we picture snow-capped mountains, lush apple orchards, rosy-hued cherry blossoms, and fragrant saffron strands. For art lovers, the region is equally famed for its soft and luxurious Pashmina shawls—gifts from a place often referred to as the “Paradise on Earth”. But amid the din and noise of these popular tourist favourites, the lesser-known Kani embroidery, an exquisite textile tradition, ends up losing its much-deserved spotlight.Once sought after by European aristocrats in the 19th century, Kani shawls were prized for their intricate craftsmanship and use of pure pashmina yarn. Today, they enjoy the protection of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, granted in 2008, helping preserve their authenticity against rising imitations.
Dr Adity Saxena, dean of the Scho...
