The government would begin the branding of Kashmir silk and offer it an international market, Manoj Sinha, lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir union territory, said while inaugurating the modernised and upgraded government silk weaving factory at Rajbagh in Srinagar recently. The government silk weaving factory was established in 1937.
“We will soon launch Rajbagh silk as a new brand for Kashmir silk. Moreover, the tourism department will work in tandem with the department of Industries and commerce to ensure ease of access to the Kashmir silk market for our tourists,” he said.
Most of the machinery had become obsolete and floods in 2014 had damaged the factory in a big way.
The revival of the factory cost Rs.23.54 crore under the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP). Under the upgradation plan, a new factory with state-of-the-art preparatory and weaving machinery has been installed.
The revamped factory would provide a cocoon consumption market to nearly 50,000 cocoon growers of the Kashmir division, according to media reports from the state. The factory would now be capable of producing 4,50,000 metres of silk fabric per annum.
In the second phase, the industries department will restore two heritage buildings of the silk factory. This would include a design studio, quality control lab and areas for tailoring where customers could select the fabric and talk to master tailors.
