Lucknow's silver nagras, handmade bridal shoes worn since the days of the Nawabs, have become too expensive for many brides after this year's silver rally. Artisans say orders have collapsed and most of the city's workshops have closed.
At a glance
- A pair of silver nagras now costs about $622 to $778, against roughly $156 to $208 a few years ago.
- One craftsman says nearly 30 nagra makers worked in Lucknow not long ago, and most have quit.
- India's higher import duty on silver in May has added to the cost of the metal.
Background
Nagras are decorative silver slip-on shoes, made either as open-toed chappals or closed-toed jutis. Lucknow's craftsmen have made them by hand since the 1600s, first for the Nawabs of Awadh and later as a wedding tradition for middle- and upper-class families. Because each pair is made largely of silver, its price moves with the metal.
What happened
Lucknow's silver nagra makers say demand has almost vanished this year as silver prices soared, Al Jazeera reported on October 10. Azhar Hussain, 55, who has worked in the trade for 30 years from a workshop in Chowk Bazaar, said orders have dried up.
A pair of nagras that cost about $156 to $208 a few years ago now costs roughly $622 to $778, according to the artisans. Workshops that once made around 10 pairs a month reported almost no orders between June and September.
Why prices jumped
Silver rallied sharply in 2026. Artisans told Al Jazeera that prices shot up almost overnight when the war involving Iran began in February. Silver has since fallen back from its peak but remains far above the levels of a few years ago.
India's own taxes added to the cost. The government raised import duty on gold and silver to 15% from 6% in May to curb imports and protect foreign currency reserves. India imports most of the silver it uses, so higher duty feeds straight into local prices.
What it means for India
"There were nearly 30 of us not long ago. Most have already abandoned the profession because silver has become too expensive and orders have dried up," said Jabbar Hussain, a fourth-generation craftsman. Kuldeep Gautam, 40, left nagra making to work as a jewellery shop salesman.
Some families are still paying. Uzma Siddique, 28, who marries in December, said the shoes are "incredibly expensive, but our emotions are attached to them". Others cannot. "I think this tradition will end with my generation," said Safiya Khan, 25, whose whole wedding budget is about $1,250.
Our read
Outlook: neutral. Craft demand in Lucknow is too small to move silver prices. The story shows how high prices are already cutting traditional Indian silver demand.
What to watch
- Whether silver prices ease enough to bring nagra orders back before the winter wedding season.
- Any change to India's 15% import duty on silver.
- Whether the remaining Lucknow workshops stay open or follow others out of the craft.
For information only, not investment advice.
Silver price in India
metalscost.com India reference price as of 2026-10-16.
Detailed analysis
Timeline
- 2026-10-10: Al Jazeera reports that high silver prices are pushing Lucknow's nagra makers out of the trade.
Demand Drivers
High prices are cutting traditional silver demand for bridal crafts, with some Lucknow workshops reporting no orders for months.
Trade Tariffs
India's import duty on silver rose to 15% from 6% in May, lifting domestic prices.
What could lift prices
- Some families still buy silver nagras for weddings despite the higher cost.
- Investment demand for silver as a safe asset has supported prices this year.
What could weigh on prices
- High prices are destroying some traditional demand, such as silver bridal footwear.
- Higher import duty discourages Indian buying of silver.
Country impact
| Country | Impact | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| India | Medium | High silver prices and import duty are hurting a centuries-old craft in Lucknow. |
Industry impact
| Industry | Effect | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Jewellery & Silverware | Negative | Artisans report orders collapsing as brides find silver nagras too expensive. |
Who gains, who loses
- Owners of old silver nagras: Pairs bought years ago are now worth far more for their silver content.
- Lucknow's nagra artisans: Orders have dried up, and many have left the craft for other work.
- Brides on modest budgets: A traditional wedding item has moved out of reach.
Other ways this could play out
- If silver keeps falling from its peak, some families may return to buying nagras for weddings.
- If prices stay high, the craft could lose most of its remaining workshops.
Price risks
- Silver prices depend on investment flows and industrial demand, not on craft buying.
- A cut in India's import duty would lower local silver prices without any change in world prices.
Technical view
Price is trading below both its 20-period and 50-period moving averages, a bearish alignment.
Computed from metalscost.com's own stored price history.
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