Srinagar, Oct 10 (KNS): Kashmir’s centuries-old Talim system, used by artisans to translate intricate carpet and shawl designs into weaving instructions, has received a digital alternative with the development of an indigenous software capable of generating computerised design scripts.
The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, has developed the software, named DesignNweave, in collaboration with the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), following more than four years of research and development.
The institute has priced a single-user licence at Rs 20,000, making the software available to carpet manufacturers, Kani shawl producers, designers and other stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir’s handicraft industry.
Unlike conventional design applications, DesignNweave has been developed specifically for Kashmir’s traditional weaving practices, particularly the Talim system through which patterns are translated into instructions followed by weavers.
The software allows users to create, modify and refine designs for hand-knotted carpets, Kani shawls and other handicraft and handloom products before generating the corresponding computerised Talim scripts.
The development could reduce the manual effort involved in preparing design instructions and provide manufacturers with a digital method of managing complex patterns, although the institute has not released comparative data on time savings or productivity gains.
The Talim system remains central to Kashmir’s traditional carpet-weaving industry, where complex designs are communicated through specialised instructions rather than conventional visual patterns alone.
The new software seeks to connect that traditional process with digital design tools without requiring artisans to abandon the established weaving system.
According to IICT, DesignNweave incorporates additional design tools and commands and has been developed for compatibility with different software and hardware platforms.
The institute said the four-year development process was undertaken with NIELIT Srinagar to address the specific technological requirements of Kashmir’s handicraft and handloom sector.
The Rs 20,000 licence fee has been fixed following approval from the institute’s competent authority and in response to demand from industry stakeholders.
However, the institute has not disclosed how many designers or manufacturing units have tested the software, whether any commercial installations have been completed, or how its performance compares with existing design applications.
Its adoption will depend on the ability of artisans and manufacturers to integrate digital design generation into their existing production processes.
The software is being offered through IICT Srinagar, which operates under the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir.
The development marks an attempt to digitise one of Kashmir’s distinctive weaving practices while retaining the traditional Talim-based production system used in the region’s carpet and shawl industries. (KNS)
