In tune with time, traditional carpet weavers in Kashmir have switched to computer-aided design and manufacture of their world famous product.
By Suhail Ahmed
Srinagar, July 28 : In tune with time, traditional carpet weavers in Kashmir have switched to computer-aided design and manufacture of their world famous product.
In a bid to help the carpet industry to face competition in a liberalised world trade regime, the Srinagar-based Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) has introduced computer-based designs.
The Institute has set up a state-of-the-art digital carpet-designing studio, the first of its kind in the Kashmir valley, to facilitate carpet weavers and dealers to create innovative designs.
"Earlier, it was not possible for the carpet weavers to make the perfect carpet, which they had imagined. Now, with the help of software designing, they can see the carpet even before it is made," said Mohammed Yosuf, a carpet designer.
The studio enables weavers to design a carpet in a short time, just for a nominal fee of Rs. 1000.
The Institute also helps to protect the design conceptualised by weavers as their sole intellectual property.
According to Zubair Ahmad Mir, Director of the Institute, the idea was to provide a common facility where carpet weavers will work. He says: "We will provide them with designer software facility, printers, scanners and backup of uninterrupted power supply."
The Institute uses the special carpet designing software 'Naqash' integrated with computer aided designing which till now was only within the reach of big carpet dealers and not the ordinary designer of weaver.
The officials at the Institute claim that this is the first of such kind lab in country where designers can come and use the equipment which till now was not in their reach due to economic constraints.
Carpet weaving in India is largely influenced by the Persian style and the Kashmiri handicraft products are known the world over for their exquisite craftsmanship.
Depending upon the design, size and quality, the price of Kashmir carpet varies between 500 to 50,000 rupees.
India exports carpets to 19 countries including USA, Germany, the UK, Australia and Canada.
During the fiscal 2006-07, Indian carpet export registered at 807.94 million US dollars, up by 15.99 per cent from the previous year.
The major carpet producing regions are Agra-Bhadoi belt in Uttar Pradesh, Kashmir, Bikaner-Udaipur belt in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
The origin of carpet industry in India can be traced to 16th century, when Mughal Emperor Akbar is believed to have brought some Persian weavers to make carpets for his palace in Agra.
ANI