What is made in Srinagar
Most Srinagar crafts are made by artisans at home or in small workshops, then washed, finished and packed by a dealer or exporter. One order often passes through several hands, so the inspection is usually at the exporter's finishing and packing unit.
| Craft | Official listing | Key inspection points |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-knotted carpets (wool and silk) | Kashmir Hand-Knotted Carpet GI; ODOP Srinagar "Hand Knotted Carpet" | Knot count, fibre (silk or viscose), size, shading, fringes |
| Pashmina and wool shawls | Kashmir Pashmina GI (application 46) | Fibre claim, weight, embroidery, edges, labels |
| Namdas and chain-stitch rugs | Kashmir Namda (868) and Kashmir Chain Stitch (1046) GIs, certified 31 March 2025 | Felt thickness, stitch cover, dye bleeding, moth |
| Papier mâché | ODOP Srinagar "Papier mache" | Paint and lacquer, cracks, lid fit, colour against sample |
| Walnut wood carving | ODOP Srinagar "Walnut wood carving" | Moisture, cracks, carving depth, finish, insects |
A GI protects a name for goods from the registered area made by the registered method. It does not prove the fibre content of a single shawl or rug, so we match any GI tag to the pieces it covers and treat fibre content as a lab question.
What we check for Srinagar products
| Product | Key checks |
|---|---|
| Hand-knotted wool rugs | Knots per square inch counted on the back, size and diagonals, pile height, abrash against the approved sample, binding and fringe |
| Silk and wool-silk rugs | Pile fibre against the label (silk, not viscose), very fine knot counts, shading from pile direction, wet rub for dye bleeding |
| Chain-stitch rugs and namdas | Stitch cover with no base cloth showing, felt thickness and thin spots, backing, shape, moth damage |
| Pashmina and wool shawls | Size and weight, sozni or kani work against the sample, hand-rolled edges and fringe, fibre labels, GI or certificate tags |
| Papier mâché boxes and trays | Lid fit and hinges, paint chips, lacquer cure and odour, hairline cracks |
| Carved walnut décor | Moisture reading, cracks, carving symmetry, finish, live insect damage |
See also rug and carpet inspection and wool and woollens inspection. Fibre identification (pashmina, cashmere, silk) is done by a lab; we pull and seal samples through lab testing coordination.
Common defects in Srinagar crafts
| Defect | Typical class | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rug or shawl labelled silk or pashmina but made of viscose, fine wool or a blend | Critical | False fibre claim under US and EU labelling law |
| Live moth larvae or insects in wool, felt or wood | Critical | Can infest the whole shipment and be refused at import |
| Rug size or knot count below the order | Major | Value and fit of the rug depend on both |
| Dye bleeding on a wet rub, especially on namda felt and silk | Major | Colours run at the first clean |
| Base cloth showing through chain-stitch work, or thin spots in felt | Major | Weak and visible |
| Cracked lacquer or chipped paint on papier mâché | Major | Shows at once and spreads in transit |
| Uneven fringe, loose binding or crooked edges | Minor | Appearance; easy to rework before packing |
Timing and logistics
Srinagar is outside our inspector base cities, so an inspector travels from Delhi NCR and travel is charged at actual cost. Give us up to 5 working days' notice. Several exporters in the city can sometimes be covered on one trip if their lots are small.
- Winter: cold and snow can slow washing and drying of rugs and felts, and road travel out of the valley can close in bad weather. Allow extra time between the ready date and the shipping date.
- Moth: wool, pashmina and felt need moth protection in storage and packing. We check storage, wrapping and any moth-proofing treatment stated on the order.
- Consolidation: goods are often trucked out of the valley and packed or stuffed elsewhere. If the container is loaded at another city, container loading supervision there checks the count and condition.
How to book an inspection in Srinagar
Send the product, the exporter's address and the ready date through the booking form for Srinagar. For rugs, include the size, knot count and fibre for each design; for shawls, the fibre, weight and any GI or certificate claim; for crafts, photos of the approved sample.
An inspection costs US$249 per man-day plus actual travel cost (Band C), quoted before you book; see pricing. Within 24 hours we confirm the inspector, the notice and the price. The report arrives within 24 hours of the inspection, with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- J&K Department of Information: GI Registry assigns new logo to Kashmir Hand-Knotted Carpet (7 Feb 2025)
- DGFT, Appendix 1B: List of Towns of Export Excellence
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Pashmina (application 46)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Namda (application 868)
- IP India GI registry: Kashmir Chain Stitch (application 1046)
- Invest India: National ODOP product list (5 May 2023)
Are you a quality inspector in Srinagar?
We work with vetted freelance inspectors near the factories we check. You take assignments in your own area, inspect to our checklist, and Clear To Load pays you, never the factory. Apply to inspect with us.