SRINAGAR: In a major step to check sale of fake pashmina shawls, the central government has awarded it a patent recognising the Kashmiri origin of the immensely popular traditional handloom.
Under the Geographical Indications (GI) of goods patent, Kashmiri pashmina shawl will now have its own distinctive logo, officials said.
The patent came after an agreement among Kashmir Handmade Pashmina Promotion Trust (KHPPT), Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Crafts Development Institute (CDI) and the Tahafuz, a society of diverse Kashmiri handicraft artisans - on September 12 actively brokered by the Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh, they said.
The Kashmiri pashmina GI would be registered in the Clauses 23 (yarns and thread for textile use) and 24 (textiles and textiles goods, not included in the category of bed, tablecovers and clothing.
The KHPPT is a body of former shahtoosh and pashmina workers, which came into existence at the behest of WTI and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to promote traditional Kashmir handmade pashmina.
CDI is an autonomous body created by the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government to promote handicrafts in the state.
The GI for Kashmir pashmina was strongly recommended by the Wildlife Trust of India and the International Fund for Animal Welfare as early as 2001 after they conducted a census of shahtoosh workers in the valley.
Kashmir pashmina came out as a viable alternative to the banned shahtoosh products which could prevent poaching of Tibetan antelope commonly known as the Chiru.
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