60 year old Muhammad Yousuf,a Kashmiri footwear maker, has kept alive the centuries-old tradition of making footwear (Pulhoor) with paddy straw. Resident of Zantrag village in Khrew, Pampore, he not only makes the traditional footwear but also several other items with straw, including mats, covers for cups, straps for wooden slippers and baskets. Yousuf learnt this art of making footwear, mats etc from his forefathers and he is now also making these items at the School of Design in Srinagar, where many come to learn this craft. Though customers for such items are very few, these straw made items are skin and environment friendly and can be easily made at home once the craft is learnt.