Jammu and Kashmir, a state with a historically rich culture is spread across a versatile and breath-taking geography. With a multitude of people, different regions and their traditions, the state is the home to numerous commendable arts and crafts. The state’s traditional handloom weaving has, since centuries, developed a name for itself across the world. Apart from designs found specifically in the area, the raw materials are also produced within the state be it pashmina, silk or wool. Traditional handloom weaving has been a major source of employment for a significant part of the state’s workforce.

In this spirit, the J&K State Handloom Development Corporation Ltd was incorporated in 1981 exclusively to undertake the promotion of decentralized handloom sector of the state and to implement centrally sponsored handloom projects initiated by the Government of India. Even before the creation of JKHDC, the State Government had undertaken implementation of an intensive handloom development project (IHDP) with its headquarters at Pampore, an export oriented handloom project EOHDP headquartered at Samba and a Kani shawl weaving project headquartered at Kanihama. The three projects were part of centrally sponsored schemes of GoI. Their execution had been entrusted by the State Govt. to J&K SICOP and on its inception, JKHDC took over the charge of these three ongoing projects.

Wool and pashmina are the main raw materials produced within the state for traditional handloom weaving. With an objective to productively utilize the large quantity of raw material available within the state, the State Govt. took a keen interest and supported this sector by providing financial aid to the Corporation This resulted in the value addition of raw material and created a vast platform for local employment. Despite this, a very small portion of the potential of this raw material could be tapped locally even with the fact that unlimited demand for our handloom products made of wool, silk and pashmina exists within as well as outside the state. With this context, JKHDC has a vast avenue for its growth.