With Christmas just weeks away, Kashmiri paper mâché artisans are facing one of their bleakest seasons in decades. New U.S. tariffs on Indian imports have severely hit their largest export market, triggering order cancellations from the U.S. and Europe.
For generations, these artisans have handcrafted intricate Christmas decorations — bells, stars, balls and figurines — destined for global markets. But this year, exporters report a sharp drop in demand, forcing traders to slash prices and leaving warehouses full of unsold goods.
Artisans say the tariff blow has come on top of earlier losses caused by the Pahalgam attack, which crippled tourism and local showroom sales. As costs rise and demand falls, many fear the younger generation will abandon this centuries-old craft altogether, putting a historic Kashmiri tradition at risk during what should be its most profitable season.
00:00The festival of Christmas is around the corner, but for Kashmiri paper-mashing artisans and exporters, this joyous occasion has little to offer.
00:08And the reason is that they are unable to send their specially designed paper-mashing products like bells, balls and stars to the Western and European markets due to the hefty tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
00:22With Christmas just weeks away, in the workshops of Kashmir, there is little festive cheer this year.
00:32For thousands of paper-mashing arisans, this is usually the busiest time of the year, a season of hope and steady income.
00:45But this Christmas, their orders are drying up.
00:49The reason lies far from the valley.
00:52For One India News, Izhar Ali have brought us the tale of papier-mâché artisans and impact of tariffs on them.
01:05New U.S. tariffs on Indian imports have dealt a major blow to their biggest export market.
01:12Every year, Kashmiri craftsmen produce tens of thousands of handmade Christmas decorations, bells, balls, stars and intricately painted figurines.
01:28These bright, hand-polished pieces travel across the world to homes and Christmas trees in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe.
01:42This year, that global demand has sharply fallen.
01:50Exporters say the tariff hike under the Trump administration has pushed many international buyers away.
01:56Christmas and New Year are the same time in which we keep waiting for the whole year.
02:03Usually, there are a lot of orders from Europe and the U.S.
02:07But this year, it has been a little less.
02:10Because the tariff of the U.S. tariff has increased because of the impact on the U.S. tariff.
02:15Because of course, there are a lot of people who want to import the tariff in the U.S. tariff in the U.S. tariff.
02:23So, there is a little difference, but hopefully in the coming year, hopefully, it will revive it again.
02:31But as of now, there is a difference.
02:32He says Christmas and New Year are the only time they see large orders from abroad.
02:40But this season, orders from the U.S. and Europe have dropped significantly.
02:48He adds that until tariffs are eased, many traders are hesitant to send goods overseas.
02:56The tariff shock comes on top of an already difficult year.
03:01Traders had hoped international clients would return after business in the valley suffered following the Pailgam attack.
03:09Instead, they say conditions have only worsened.
03:16In the past year, Christmas was ready for Christmas.
03:23I don't know that the market is down.
03:25The Pailgam has also affected the price.
03:28We sold the prices here for the first time.
03:31When tourists didn't come, the price was also in the first time.
03:36Mir says there is usually strong Christmas demand for paper mache decorations, balls, bells, stars and Santa sets.
03:47This year, sales are down by nearly 40%.
03:52Traders are cutting prices, yet buyers remain scarce.
03:58The losses have been so severe that many families are questioning the future of the craft.
04:06Mir warns the younger generation is losing interest in a profession that no longer offers financial security.
04:15He says the Pailgam attack also hit local sales hard.
04:20When tourists stopped coming, showrooms were left with unsold stock piling up on shelves.
04:27When the U.S. tariffs came to India, we had a lot of effect.
04:32Our work, artisans are suffering a lot.
04:35Because many orders will cancel from the U.S. and the U.K.
04:40Kahn says the tariffs have led to mass order cancellations from the U.S. and Europe.
04:50Artisans, he says, are struggling to survive.
04:54Paper mache in Kashmir is a labor-intensive art.
04:58Discarded paper is soaked, massed into pulp, shaped using wooden or copper molds,
05:04and then hand-painted with meticulous detail.
05:09The craft dates back to the 15th century.
05:15Today, thousands of families depend on it for their livelihood.
05:20But as Christmas approaches, artisans fear that a tradition sustained by global demand
05:26is facing one of its toughest seasons yet.
05:30These thousands of paper-mashy dealers who were expecting a brisk business this Christmas
05:40have nothing left but disappointment and despair on their faces.
05:44In Shrinagar, for OneIndia, Izzhar Ali.
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