What are real pashminas made from?

Pashmina shawls are made of the finest Cashmere wool which comes from Ladakh. Changthang region of Ladakh hosts an exotic variety of goats, which grow Cashmere as down fibre. This down fibre is acquired in the Summer season and processed to make Pashmina products.

How can you tell if a pashmina is real?

Genuine pashmina will leave a burnt hair smell and there'll be some powdery residue behind. If it's a synthetic fibre, you may smell burnt leaves and it will burn more brightly and leave a small bump behind. These are some of the most common and simple ways to know if your Pashmina is a genuine one.

What kind of fabric is pashmina?

Pashmina (/pʌʃˈmiːnə, pæʃ-/, also US: /pɑːʃ-/) refers to a fine variant of spun cashmere, the animal-hair fibre forming the downy undercoat of the Changthangi goat. The word pashm means "wool" in Persian, but in Kashmir, pashm referred to the raw unspun wool of domesticated Changthangi goats.

Is pashmina a natural fabric?

No. Pashmina as a special type of cashmere does not exist. When talking about a Pashmina, we always mean a traditional handwoven scarf made out of either cashmere or a blend of silk and cashmere. Pashmina as a natural fabric does not exist.

Where do pashminas come from?

Pashmina, popularly known as cashmere wool, derived its name from Pashm, which refers to the under fleece of the Himalayan mountain goat, called Chyangra (Capra Hircus) which lives in the high altitude of 12,000 feet in Himalayan regions of Nepal where the temperature drops below -40 degrees and in some remote regions ...

How Pashmina is made?

How are pashminas made?

THE PROCEDURE. The making of Pashmina involves collecting the fine hair of the Pashmina goat, sorting raw Cashmere, spinning, weaving, and creating a world-class shawl. Indeed, the entire process is both extensive and thorough. It demands a precision that is beyond many.

Is Pashmina the same as cashmere?

Whileas, Cashmere is the fine wool that grows on the body of the Changthangi goat of Ladakh, Pashmina is the name given to the art of transforming it. Hence the transformation of Cashmere to luxury shawls, scarves, stoles or wraps is an art, which is called the art of Pashmina.

Why is pashmina so expensive?

Every spring, they shed their winter coat and it is collected for the weaving process. One goat produces only about a few grams of Pashmina each year. In addition to this, a single Pashmina shawl requires wool from about three goats. Hence the exorbitant price becomes obvious.

Can pashmina be washed?

Handwashing is always the best and safest method for washing pashmina. Dry-cleaning solvents and enzyme-containing detergents will degrade the yarns. Add 2 capfuls or a squirt of Wool & Cashmere Shampoo to a washbasin or sink filled with cool water.

What animal is pashmina wool from?

Pashmina can also be defined as the down (undercoat) fibre derived from cashmere goats with a diameter of 30 microns or less. Pashmina has derived its name from the Persian word 'Pashm' meaning, soft gold, the king of fibres [1].

What is the difference between a shawl and a pashmina?

The same difference is between a shawl and a pashmina shawl or a cashmere shawl. Both pashmina and cashmere refer to the same quality of wool however pashmina is the Indian colloquial word whereas cashmere is the anglicized word. Shawls can be made of wool, silk and even blends of viscose, polyester, acrylic.

Is pashmina illegal?

Pashmina is not banned and has never been. It is sold all over the world openly. But it has been confused with the Shahtoosh shawls as both are called Kashmiri shawls. But Pashmina is ethical, sustainable, and of course the most beautiful creation of human hands.

What is the difference between a scarf and pashmina?

Pashmina scarves are generally larger than a typical scarf, often referred to as a shawl and nearly as long as a stole. A pashmina is the perfect accessory to protect from winter's chill while maintaining a high end look. A Pashmina these days can legally be 100% Pashmina as “A Pashmina” is also a style.

How can you tell an original Kashmiri shawl?

All you have to do is to take the thread and place it on a plate and burn it. Smell the odor of the burnt fabric and check the ashes carefully with fingertips. If you get burnt hair smell and the ash turns out to be like a powdery substance, it is likely to be real.

What are Pashmina shawls made of?

Pashmina shawls are made of the finest Cashmere wool which comes from Ladakh. Changthang region of Ladakh hosts an exotic variety of goats, which grow Cashmere as down fibre. This down fibre is acquired in the Summer season and processed to make Pashmina products.

How do you Unwrinkle a pashmina?

Wash gently with warm water and pure soap. Blot dry without twisting. Use a moderately warm iron with a cover sheet. Hanging your pash unbunched will get rid of most wrinkles.

How do you store pure pashmina shawl?

Store the Pashmina shawl in a muslin cloth or protective case as storing it in plastic could damage the shawl. It can lead to the development of lint and mar the beauty of your shawl. Also avoid using naphthalene balls or cakes while storing such shawls.

How do you maintain pashmina?

Ideally, Pashmina should always be dry cleaned using organic solvents. It not only removes soil and stains from the fabric; but also maintains the shape, color, look of the garment. If that isn't an option, use cold water to hand-wash your Pashmina in a separate container/bucket/sink.

Which is the most expensive shawl in the world?

Inside the Illegal Trade of $20,000 Shawls Made From an Endangered Animal. Four Tibetan antelopes are killed to make a single piece of shahtoosh, the world's most expensive wool. Mushtaq Beigh remembers the first time his hands touched the feathery light yarn of shahtoosh.

How warm is Pashmina?

A pashmina shawl is very thin yet very warm. The goats from which the soft pashmina wool is collected, are found on very high altitudes of 5000 metres. In winter, the temperature here drops below 0° C (–40°C).

Does Pashmina keep you warm?

Warm: The first reason why Pashmina is best for winter should be the capability of keeping you warm in the chilly weather. It works as an insulator as it keeps the heat inside and prevents the cold wind to touch the skin.

What is difference between wool and Pashmina?

Pashmina is softer and finer than other cashmere wool. We can, in fact, say that they are the finest grade of cashmere. However, only an expert in the field may be able to identify this difference in texture. Pashmina fibre is about 10-15 microns.

Is Pashmina and silk expensive?

Price of Pashmina and Cashmere

A Pashmina scarf, on average can be worth US$120 - 300 (dimension is 200 cm x 35cm). It also depends on purity. This is the price of a 100% pure Pashmina scarf, not a fake one that includes threads of silk/nylon. Nevertheless, plain scarves will range from $120 to $150.

Is Pashmina a silk?

Pashmina silk sarees are woven with fine silks extracted from the wool of the mountain sheep. The fabric is so subtle and smooth that real Pashmina silk saree can be passed through a small finger ring. You can wear Pashmina silk sari for casual and festive occasions.