Editorial photo #13577330 Economy, Business and Finance
Middle East Conflict Hits Kashmiri Kani Shawl Exports As Global Orders Decline
A Kashmiri artisan works on a Kani Shawl using a traditional handloom on the outskirts of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 14, 2026. The Kani shawl weaving is a complex and rare craft in Kashmiri weaving culture, where patterns and designs inspired by nature are woven to create expensive and delicate shawls. The Kashmiri word 'Kani' translates to 'small sticks,' which are used by craftsmen to interlace various colored threads of pashmina on handlooms. Pashmina wool is sourced from Pashmina goats in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, Kashmir. Artisans and traders in the Kani shawl industry are experiencing a slowdown in international demand, with clients reducing or postponing bulk orders. Factors such as uncertainty over shipping routes, rising costs, and market instability related to the ongoing Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have impacted the export sector. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)
