Shafeeqa: Mends a future, one motif at a time
This case study shares the experience of Shafeeqa, a master artisan from the Anchar Lake area of Srinagar, who has worked in traditional Sozni and Tilla embroidery for over four decades. Despite living through persistent poverty, political instability, and conflict-related disruptions in Kashmir, she used her skills to support her family and train other women in the craft.
Shafeeqa’s journey reflects the intersections of economic insecurity, gender-based constraints, and the challenges of working in an informal craft sector. Her experience highlights how women artisans in conflict zones face limited mobility, informal labour structures, and a lack of institutional support, yet continue to contribute to local economies and cultural heritage preservation.
Through her involvement in a women-led initiative supported by Yakjah, Shafeeqa accessed new markets, improved design skills, and began to engage in collective organising with other women artisans, including reconnecting across community lines. Her work contributes not only to her own household income but also to wider efforts in economic empowerment, social cohesion, and cultural continuity in Kashmir.
Read the full case study here.