Kashmiri artisans are facing mounting fears after recent U.S. tariff hikes jeopardized their livelihoods. The higher duties on Indian exports have disproportionately impacted the handicraft and carpet sectors—industries deeply woven into the region’s cultural and economic fabric.
For decades, Kashmiri craftspeople have relied on exports of intricately embroidered shawls, Pashmina textiles, and hand-knotted carpets to sustain their families. Many households juggle multiple generations under one roof: one member working the loom, another finishing embroidery, and yet another handling sales. With the U.S. market now less accessible, order cancellations and declining international demand are already being reported.
Craft cooperatives—once robust hubs where production, marketing, and design converged—are being pushed to the brink. Unsold inventory has piled up in storerooms, while many weavers find themselves unable to afford raw materials for new orders. A skilled master weaver shared that, for the first time in memory, his family may struggle to make even a partial earning this season. Younger artisans, too, are disheartened: seeing limited opportunity, several are considering abandoning family crafts for alternative work.
Local traders and cultural leaders argue that the crisis is not merely economic but cultural. Handicrafts are a cornerstone of Kashmir's identity, passed down through generations. The erosion of this industry could sever the link between past and future artisans.
Community advocates are calling for swift government action—a relief package to subsidize raw materials, ease access to alternate markets, and provide short-term financial aid to mitigate the drop in overseas orders. They stress this is a moment to preserve not just income, but intricate craftsmanship that contributes to both heritage and regional pride.
As the crisis unfolds, artisan families wait with wary hope. Sustaining these delicate threads of tradition will require coordinated support and innovative strategies to shield an iconic industry from slipping away.
