Srinagar, March 25: In an amazing story of passion and perseverance, four young entrepreneurs from downtown Srinagar have embarked on a mission to revive the fading glory of Kashmiri handicrafts .
Documentary filmmaker Arif Irshad, in his early 30s, along with his engineer friends Adil, Molifat, and Sameer, defied the odds to revive the complex artistry of Kashmir.
In 2019, with just Rs 200,000 in hand, these four friends launched Kashmirorigin.com, an e-commerce platform dedicated to showcasing the rich tapestry of Kashmiri craftsmanship. In less than six years, their venture has become a remarkable success story, generating hundreds of thousands in revenue every month.
They have curated a collection that ranges from the luxurious threads of pashmina to the delicate intricacies of crewel to the exquisite charm of paper mache with traditional foods.
“We invested in this business out of our pocket money. With a team of experts including software developers, filmmakers and photographers, we brought our creative designs to life online,” said Irshad. Masu.
After getting a good response from online media, the talented youngsters started receiving orders from various locations across India and even developed international customers.
“We receive orders from different states. Within a few months of starting our business, we have been able to manage a good customer network,” say the young entrepreneurs.
The young people said they receive their products directly from talented artisans and have a strong chain of artisans. Our plans are dependent on funding. We want to revive all the art forms of Kashmir as much as possible. We want to promote weathered works of art in Kashmir. We would like to open a showroom in the future,” the entrepreneurs said.
Irshad said he hopes to give life to all forms of Kashmiri art to preserve and promote the heritage of our ancestors.
“Beyond profits and accolades. We remained steadfast in our mission to empower Kashmiri artisans. By connecting directly with these talented artisans, we are committed to providing fair remuneration and sustainable We will ensure partnerships and promote a community-led approach to economic recovery,” he said.
