The Kashmir shawls are known all over the world for superfine quality of wool, its intricate designs and remarkable craftsmanship, a reputation it has had for centuries.

Kani is a special type of Kashmir shawl, which are are woven on looms with the help of kanis. Kanis are small eyeless bobbins used instead of the shuttle.

Fabric:
The kani shawls, which are woven pashmina shawls, are also called jamawars and are characterized by an all-over pattern originally used in making the jama, the coat worn by men. These shawls are woven on a frame-loom using countless needles called tooji, which have woolen thread colors attached to them. The master weaver and his helper use written instructions known as talim to weave the shawls. The talim indicate the color and the number of warp threads to be covered.

Design & Pattern:
Kani shawls are woven into intricate patterns using a technique in which the weavers throw the weft across and then the design is decided on the basis of which the different colored threads are woven in. Kani shawls are available in antique Kashmiri design, ari embroidery and needle embroidery. Kani shawls are renowned for their unique softness, rich colors and astonishingly intricate designs since time immemorial.

Market of Kani Shawls:
Since ancient times, kani shawls are extremely popular with the fashionable women across the globe, especially Paris and London. Kashmir in India is the sole producer of kani shawls in the world. The exquisite design of these shawls have made them immensely popular in the international markets. These highly priced shawls have contributed to the rise of shawl industry since long.