The Art of Shawl making from Kashmir
The Splendor of Kashmir by Varuna Anand
Bringing you the finest handcrafted shawls from Kashmir.
Sui Kaam Hand Embroidery.
The 100% coverage of Shawl with extensive hand embroidery creates the famed Jamavar shawl. The embroidery technique differs from a single stitch called a Sozni stitch to a papermachie stitch.
The Paper machie stitch involves the use of more color and filing of a motif with fine embroidery, where by a motif depicts the effect of shading. This too is as time consuming and it is only this extreme mastery of these highly skilled craftsmen,who create these matchless wonders.
The embroidery patterns for generations have been influenced by nature. Over the years the motifs evolved being influenced by European patterns which converted the traditional Badam shape to the curvilinear elongated Paisley shape.
The intricacy and detailing of the design takes a craftsmen a minimum of a year to complete the entire shawl.
Kani Shawl Weaving
Weaving of a Kani shawl is meticulously regulated by a coded pattern, known as the Talim drawn by the Naqash for guidance of the weaver. The Kani Shawl being oblong in shape generally remains in 100 cms x 200 cms in size. Two craftsmen can complete a shawl within 2 to3 years and in some cases the period of weaving even stretches to 5 long years, depending entirely on designs. The most skilled weavers can only weave upto an inch of a Kani shawl in a day.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah speaking to ANI news agency on the launch of the “Heirloom Collection 2017”, on 9th November 2017 at The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi.
SOK on Social Media
Testimonials - Words of Appreciation
Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar The Maharana of Udaipur
The Splendor of Kashmir is a sincere endeavor by Mrs. Varuna Anand to promote the age-old art of Shawl-making from Kashmir. They bring to you the finest and best of Kashmiri workmanship.
It is an endeavor which balances not only the promotion of the art of shawl-making but also focuses on the well-being of the ever-so deserving craftsmen.
In many ways they are building bridges between the creative craftsmen and the genuine lovers/patrons of the famed art of shawl-making from Kashmir.
Prince Richard Holkar Son of Maharaja of Indore
These shawls are without a doubt the finest being made in Kashmir today! Bravo! to the Anand’s for preserving these varied skills of the Kashmiri shawl makers.
Dr Farooq Abdullah Ex. Chief Minister J&K,Ex. Union Cabinet Minister , Government of India
In November 2011, I launched this endeavour of Varuna Anand ,”The Splendor of Kashmir” which was a platform to promote the age old art of Shawl making from Kashmir.
She has been working on showcasing the best of this world famous Kashmiri Handicraft to more and more people not just within our country but also overseas.
I wish Varuna all the best in her endeavour to promote this art from our state, which will benefit both the deserving craftsmen and the art enthusiastic’s who love collecting this traditional art of Kashmir.
Wishing her the very best and all success for her humble endeavour.
MS Sara Pilot Chairperson CEQUIN
It is always a pleasure to see Varuna Anand’s shawls. One is always spoilt for choice with her wonderful creativity and beautiful colours. She does an amazing job of recreating some of the old designs that would otherwise be lost forever, and blending them with new and modern techniques. The results are shawls which are rarely seen anymore today, with the finest pashmina and the finest embroidery. Thanks to Varuna, there is hope that our incredible Kashmiri shawls will continue to be enjoyed and appreciated by generations to come.
Justice A S Anand Retd . Chief Justice of India
Describing the beauty of Kashmir a Poet said “If there is Heaven on this earth, It is Here, it is Here, it is Here “.But the beauty or Kashmir is not confined to its scenic beauty, it includes the beauty 0f the products of its various cottage industries in which the age-old hand woven and hand embroidered Pashmina shawls stand out with prominence.
Unfortunately, there existed a vast gap between sincere weavers who make all these beautiful shawls and the up market customers. It was to help the weavers of Kashnrrr and to bring the gap between the sincere weavers of the valley and me admirers/collectors of this age old art, that my nephew Praveen Anand started the venture of ” Splendor of Kashmir” in 2011. Praveen started the Splendor of Kashmir with his wife Varuna Anand, who herself is a qualified textile designer and understands the art and procedure of creating masterpiece shawls.
Varuna is taking forward the legacy started by her husband With great dedication and has held various exhibitions cum sales in different parts of the country. I wish her the very best in her endeavour or taking this forward and putting her best efforts to help keep this age-old heritage of shawls hand woven and hand embroidered from Kashmir alive.