Its splendid caps have adorned heads of PM Modi to King of Oman
FAIQA MASOODI
SRINAGAR, Dec 28: With the bustling markets and busy shops flaunting a rich cultural legacy of years, the old city of Srinagar popularly known as “Shehr-e-Khaas” has always been a major crowd puller for the lovers of art, craft and culture.
As the sound of Adhaan reverberates from the nearest minaret of Jamia Masjid, a walk down the lanes of Nowhatta Chowk in the middle of Shehr-e-Khass Srinagar takes you to an array of shops dotted with caps of various sizes and shapes that are in vogue.
Hilal Cap House, Nowhatta Srinagar, one of the oldest cap shops in Nowhatta has been catering to the changing tastes of its customers over the years.
“We have been into cap making business since the 1980s. I have inherited this art from my father and my late grandfather. Over the years we have maintained our quality and have a loyal client base,” said Naveed Fayaz Shah, a third generation cap maker from his family, while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Naveed said that they keep innovating new cap designs as per the changing fashion trends.
“From politicians to students to fashion lovers; we have customers from all walks of life. To keep up with the changing times and tastes we too try to be creative with our designs while maintaining the quality,” he said, adding that many politicians and leaders have been their long term customers for many years.
“Sozni round caps, tilla caps, kani caps, woolen Afghan pakol, polo caps, London type caps, beret caps are in trend these days. Golf caps are mostly worn by our Pandit community. The fabric that we mostly use in making these caps is tweed, wool and sometimes leather also,” Shah told Kashmir Despatch.
Adorning the walls of his two story shop with colorful caps, Imran Shah, another trader told Kashmir Despatch that with the onset of winter the demand for Afghan Pakol caps, tweet and fur caps shows an upward trend while the Tilla caps and Sozni hand work caps are a hit in summers.
He said that his designs are a fusion of tradition with a tinge of modernity for the young social media influencers who in turn boost his business through their fan following of lakhs.
“Social media is a boon for us in the current scenario and an essential way to reach out to the customers. We have young instagram and facebook influencers as our customers and we design caps for them as per their requirements. Later, many young students come to us, asking for the same designs,” Imran said.
“We make these caps ourselves and have not involved any external help in this craft so as to maintain the authenticity of this trade,” he said, adding that the caps carry different price tags ranging between RS 300 to Rs 15,000.
Pertinently, Baabar Hassan, 25, popularly known as Baabarr Mudacer, Kashmir’s young singing sensation and a social media influencer from Bandipora, with more than one lakh subscribers on you tube always sports a Pakol cap in most of his concerts and live shows.
“I love to remain connected to my roots through my singing and my attire as well. My pakol cap is my style statement and many of my young followers copy the same,” Baabarr told Kashmir Despatch.
Jan Cap House, a small wooden shop in Nawab Bazaar Srinagar, is a hub of beautifully crafted Karakulli Caps in earthy shades and hues.
Karakulli cap-the prestigious headgear worn by the Kashmiri men is made from the skin of Karakul Lamb, regional to central Asia, hence the name Karakulli.
Muzzafar Ahmad Jan, a fourth generation Karakulli maker claims that his grandfather made a Karakulli for Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan.
“My grandfather, Ahmad Jan, made a cap for Jinnah, on his visit to Kashmir in 1944. We have made caps for many personalities including Narendra Modi and king of Oman and are still making it for almost all the politicians and bureaucrats of valley,” Muzzafar Jan said while talking to the Kashmir Despatch.
Jan said the quality of a Karakulli depends upon the skin of the lamb that is used in making it and the curls and grains present in a Karakulli and the price ranges between Rs 5000 and Rs 25000.
“Jinnah style Karakulli has been the most popular and preferred design by one and all but to cater to the needs of young generation we have been blending the famous Ertugul cap design into Karakulli making and it has received a good response.”
According to Zareef Ahmad Zareef, poet and author, it was during the Afghan rule that Karakulli made its way into Kashmir and with time became a symbol of prestige among Kashmiris with all the politicians and elite class men wearing it.
