SHAKEELA BEGUM 2

SHAKEELA BEGUM

WEAVER

Shakeela Begum, 52, started learning the art of carpet weaving from the tender age of 6. Her father would hold her hand and walk her to the loom where she was taught the meticulous art of weaving hand-knotted carpets.

She has a small loom setup in her own house where she works everyday, listening to her favorite music on the radio and sipping on nun-chai. She feels her skill is a blessing from the divine as it provides her employment and doesn’t involve dependency on any modern machine or electricity. She has four daughters and a son, who are all educated and want to take her legacy forward.

“I have taught all my children the art of carpet weaving, like my father taught me. You can BE anywhere and still weave a carpet. The world started working from home last year, but I have been working from home from almost 35 years. It has empowered me and given me a sense of pride and contentment like nothing else in life. But most of all, carpet weaving has made me financially independent. I want to renovate my house and add a floor to it in the near future. I am also saving money for my only son and youngest daughter’s wedding.”

ASHOK KUMAR copy

ASHOK KUMAR

SUPERVISOR, QUALITY CHECK

Ashok Kumar, 44, has been with KASHMIR GALORE (POSH CARPETS) from 1997 and oversees the inventory, repair and quality check in the Delhi warehouse. He is also very skilled in binding the edges of carpets and its alignment. He personally checks every carpet before dispatch. Ashok Kumar joined KASHMIR GALORE in the late nineties and has seen the golden era of kashmiri carpets where kashmiri carpets mounted for the majority of kashmiri handicrafts exports. Each member working for KASHMIR GALORE is of significant importance.

JABRAIZ SOFI

JABRAIZ SOFI

QUALITY CHECK & FORMER WEAVER

Jabraiz Sofi, 49, is a former weaver and has been managing inventory and quality check at Kashmir Galore( Posh Carpets) since 1991. He has in-depth knowledge about the art of carpet weaving as his father was also a weaver and taught him this beautiful yet intricate art at a very tender age. He ensures quality check at every stage; from silk procurement to yarn dyeing to the finest hand-knotting.

“Kashmir and its art will always go hand in hand. the people of kashmir always believe in serving the local art and promoting it till the day we are alive”

MUSHTAQ AHMAD

MUSHTAQ AHMED

SILK DYER

Kashmir is more than the mighty Pir Panjal, the cascading rivers, the undulating valleys, and the serene lakes; it is about its people.

Mushtaq Ahmed, 55, has been dyeing silk since the age of 23 and hand dyes the silk used in weaving of carpets. “My father was a silk dyer and my son is also in the same profession. My only wish is that my children continue our legacy as colours play a primary role in kashmiri handicrafts ant it can make a product a hit or a miss”