The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom has submitted the dossier for registration of
Kashmir Tweed to Intellectual Property India, Chennai, as per an official press release.
It is an apex-level organization for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
The Director, of Handicrafts and Handloom, (H&H) Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah, while commenting on the downswing of the centuries-old craft of Weaving Tweed said that the GI certification of Kashmir Tweed will give a fresh impetus to the craft.
The director said that the primary goal of registering it is to seek protection for Tweed of Kashmir, which further promotes and pushes it to grow on a global scale.
“The department felt it necessary to get Kashmir Tweed recognized on National and International markets owing to its uniqueness of having 100 per cent wool unlike the one produced in the rest of the country where it has also the blend of viscose,” said Director H&H adding that Tweed cloth is available
across the globe, in Kashmir, it has been in the market for centuries.
Initially produced in parts of south Kashmir, mostly in the Pulwama district, a number of areas in Kashmir periphery adopted this art to manage the requirements of the UT. Tweed is being produced in parts of north and central Kashmir like Bandipore and Budgam as well.
“There is not much difference between the famous Harris Tweed and the Kashmir Tweed, however, Kashmir Tweed could not have much presence in the global markets because of processing deficiencies and branding”, said Director H&H.
By registering Kashmir Tweed for GI it is expected that all the stakeholders involved shall get benefitted, he added.UT of J&K already has two major facilities for processing the wool, one at UNDP under the ambit of the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir
and another facility at JKI which has been at the forefront in ensuring a sustained supply of raw material as well as manufacturing of Tweed in the valley, as per an official release.
The Handicrafts and Handloom Department has been facilitating the promotion of GI-tagged products symbolizing the empowerment of the artisans.
These initiatives are aimed to help recognize and promote age-old crafts and methods that are otherwise in danger of being lost due to urbanization and industrialization.So far seven major crafts from Kashmir namely Kani Shawl, Pashmina, Sozni, Paper-Machie, Walnut Wood Carving, Khatamband, and Hand Knotted