Despite years of conflict and economic hardship, Kashmiri women are making significant strides in entrepreneurship, turning challenges into opportunities. From handicrafts to food businesses, they are carving out a space for themselves, ensuring financial independence and contributing to the region’s economy.
A 2016 survey by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had found that 50% of Kashmiri women showed signs of depression, significantly higher than men at 37%. Despite these challenges, many have persisted, building successful businesses and creating employment opportunities for others.
Craft World Kashmir: Reviving handicrafts
In the area close to bustling markets of Jamia Masjid, where Beenish now lives with her husband, kids and in-laws, who is among the two founders of Craft World Kashmir. She and Omaira, two teachers-turned-entrepreneurs, built Craft World Kashmir from the ground up. Starting in 2015 with handmade Croatian crafts, they expanded their business to include various other products such as Nikah platters, engagement ring trays, and intricate baby sets—now their best-selling product.
When Kashmir was paralyzed in 2016 due to political unrest, they turned adversity into opportunity by training young women in Croatia craft-making. “We formed a proper team, training many girls at home during that time,” says Beenish, who now resides near Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid. Even amid the Article 370 revocation lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic, their dedication never wavered, even though they faced a lot of difficulties.
Before collaborating with logistics partners, Omaira says they would deliver orders on their two-wheelers. Their brand, now recognized with shipments internationally including Australia, London, and Germany, has become a beacon of empowerment.
“We believe in creating opportunities for women who cannot step outside for work,” says Omaira, highlighting their commitment to preserving craftsmanship and skill work while ensuring financial independence for local artisans especially women.
Baking success
Like Omaira and Beenish, Syed Mehtab dared to challenge societal norms. The 29-year-old entrepreneur swapped her engineering degree for an apron, creating Sunny Smiles Bake—a bakery now employing 20 people across two outlets in Srinagar. Mehtab’s journey began in 2019 when she enrolled in a professional baking course in Delhi. The COVID-19 pandemic, while devastating for many businesses, provided her an unexpected opportunity. With no physical storefront, she turned to social media, using Facebook and Instagram to reach customers. What started as a home-based baking venture flourished into a full-fledged business, culminating in the opening of her first café in Hawal in 2023, followed by another at the Rumi Food Court in Dargah.
She says that it was a big challenge to convince her family that entrepreneurship was a viable career path. “It was difficult, but I stood my ground with passion for baking,” she recalls.
Sarposh foods
On the other hand for Azmat Ali Mir, food was not just sustenance—it was an identity. An engineer-turned-entrepreneur, she found herself longing for home while working in Bangalore and marrying into a non-kashmiri family. What started as a small Kashmiri dinner gathering soon transformed into Sarposh Foods, a brand that has now catered to events as grand as the Ambani wedding and the Cannes Film Festival, “We catered in the recent Ambani wedding reception and many major weddings across India. Most special has been catering events at the International Cannes Film Festival in France” she said.
Raised in Srinagar and trained in computer science, Azmat’s career took an unexpected turn when she realized that corporate life wasn’t fulfilling her. Encouraged by friends, she organized her first “potluck”—a gathering over Kashmiri food—which grew into a massive culinary movement. She soon flew in traditional Kashmiri wazas to Bangalore along with authentic ingredients from the Valley, hosting feasts that attracted hundreds. Encouraged by the response, Azmat began organizing larger gatherings, blending Kashmiri cuisine with music and storytelling. Renowned artists like Zareef Ahmad Zareef, Rayees Mohiuddin, Reshma, Mohammad Muneem, and Abha Hanjura performed, attracting crowds of up to 1,000 people.
However, her journey wasn’t without obstacles. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 severed her communication with her team in Kashmir, and just as Sarposh was regaining its footing, the COVID-19 lockdown struck. Yet, resilience prevailed, and today, Sarposh stands as a testament to Kashmir’s rich heritage and evolving society. “Society in Kashmir has become more accepting of women in public spaces,” she says, challenging the male-dominated world of wazwan.
Beyond Business: Empowering Women
Entrepreneurship in Kashmir is not just about business—it’s about community. Women like Shahida Khanum have dedicated themsevles to reviving Gujjar crafts through Noor Centre, a training hub for embroidery, knitting, and weaving. Women from remote villages travel long distances to learn these skills, defying cultural norms in their pursuit of independence. Earlier this year, the center even inaugurated a small museum celebrating Gujjar heritage, showcasing traditional tools and hand-embroidered attire.
Shifting to Organic foods
Anisa Bilal, a retired teacher, founded Wild Valley Foods, sourcing and selling organic Kashmiri products like saffron, honey, and walnuts to domestic and international markets. Dr. Rukhsar, the second runner-up of Master Chef India, have used their culinary expertise to launch Khalas Foods, a food business that focuses on creating unadulterated, homemade snacks, and frozen foods. With them are many other women in the valley who have now taken on the journey of entrepreneurship and expanding their businesses on a large scale.
The stories of these women are not isolated; they are interwoven into the fabric of Kashmir’s evolving identity.
