How Artisans Make Kanihama Shawls

For Sajjad Ahmad, making shawls is more than just a job—it’s a family identity. For generations, his family living in the small town of Kanihama, located in the Budgam district in the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir, has created hand-knit masterpieces. These pashmina creations, fashioned from the dyed wool of goats from the nearby Ladakh region, are so central to the village that they’re woven into its very name.