January 2020 Edition Apparel January 2020 issue | Page 76

ENTREPRENEUR SPEAK
shawls custom-made from craftsmen. It was
my husband who put me in touch with the
right people. Gradually, we spread our wings
in identifying better craftsmen. Shawl-making
in Kashmir is a cottage industry that touches
many lives. A large part of the population is
connected to the process of shawl-making—
right from shearing wool from sheep and sorting/
spinning the yarn to acquiring the end product.
For generations, it has been the only thing that
they know to do to earn their bread and butter.
Unfortunately, it is only the weaver and craftsman
who get all the credit and all the other people
involved go unnoticed. But this industry cannot
exist in absence of any one of these people who
play a vital role in the process of shawl-making.
HOW HAS THE RESPONSE TO THE LINE
BEEN GLOBALLY?
I think that being a timeless textile and probably
one of the most venerated ones from India, we
had an advantage when it came to reaching out
to people. Lovers and collectors of this textile are
spread far and wide. As people started hearing
more and more about us and seeing the quality
of products that we offer to our consumers,
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January 2020
their faith in us grew stronger and so did word
about The Splendor of Kashmir. Thus, our reach
has only widened over the years. Now, we can
emphatically say we that we have a lot of happy
clients across the globe.
HOW HAS WORKING IN THE VALLEY
BEEN, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS?
Unfortunately, the situation in the Valley has never
been stable enough, with some or the other
strife. A few years back, there were even major
floods. As a result, things are always uncertain.
Due to the volatile situation, delays are a part of
our work but since our products are handmade,
our planning starts at least a year ahead of the
next season. We pray for peace and prosperity
for all; may things improve and the much-required
calmness and stability be brought about in
the Valley.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE FACED
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS?
The Splendor of Kashmir has persistently
promoted luxurious textiles from Jammu and