Leather Craft of Jammu & Kashmir

Plain and embroidered items in leather --- like shoes, gloves, coats and suitcases --- are made in Kashmir. Zari work with gold and silver threads adds to the beauty of embroidered products. Jammu is famous for zari-embroidered leather jooties and chappals (footwear). The main centres are Dhaliki Sirajan in Jammu city and Machhedi and Bani in Kathua district. Samba is also known for embroidered jooties. Paboos are special Ladakhi boots made of hessian cloth, used wool felt, coarse hair of yak and goat, and tie and dye woollen tweed (thigma) with leather for the sole. They protect the feet against frost-bite.