Bliss in the horizon of defined nature, Kashmir Valley has immensely unraveled the pure craft of Pashmina. With the heritage of Kashmir, handicrafts reveal the beauty of the high skill of artisans. Pashmina is the Craft that imbibes in the Valley. It is the crafting of the finest Cashmere procured from Changhthanghi, Ladakh. Therefore, the crafting in Pashmina has been added with several other traditional crafts around the world to showcase the premium definition of heritage and skill. Shibori is the tie and dye technique from Japanese roots. It is the bounty of tying the cloth in different ways and dyeing it. This technique gives the best patterns to the fabric. In Pashmina Craft, the Shibori technique is beautified on the finest Cashmere fabric. The new age beauty revived through the handicraft of Pashmina is Shibori.

There are three main styles in Pashmina Art viz; Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls. Moreover, there is a proper design collection of Cashmere Wraps in the Shibori technique. They are called Shibori Cashmere, the contemporary styled Wraps to diversely scatter the luxury in the world of fashion.

Procuring the finest Cashmere

Chanthanghi region in Ladakh is the coldest in the winter season. The temperature goes to a minimum of -40 degrees. There is a rare species of Goat that dwell at the feet of the Changhthanghi range. They are called Changra Goats or Changhthanhi Goats. The goats are medium-sized and are grazed by the herders of the Changpa tribe for their soft wool. In the winter season, the goats develop a thick pelage of wool under their belly, behind their ears, and near the neck region. The wool protects them from the harsh winter cold. Gradually with the change in seasons, the Goats shed the wool off by rubbing their bodies against rocks and tree barks to feel the fresh air of summer.

In addition, the Changpa herders comb out the excess wool from their bodies. The wool procured is the finest Cashmere. It is the softest wool with 12 to 16 microns in diameter.

There are diverse breeds of Cashmere producing goats. Each breed has a specific percentage of production in the total production. The several breeds viz;  Australian Cashmere Goat, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Hexi, Zhonghwei, Tibetan Plateau, Luliang breeds, Changthanghi, etc. Therefore, all the breeds produce Cashmere wool that produces warmth. The exclusive breed of goats called Changra Goats is rare species of goats that produce the finest Cashmere wool. In addition, the Goats produce fine Cashmere wool once every year. Therefore, only around 80 to 170 gms of Ladakhi Cashmere are produced during a year. Therefore, considered the rarest. Also, other breeds of it produce several times more as there is almost 400 million Cashmere eliciting Goats all over the world.

Pashmina Art of Kashmir Valley

Crafting fine accessories from the finest Cashmere wool, the tufts of wool are taken to the Kashmir Valley. After the tufts of wool reach the valley of Kashmir, the supremely premium Art of Pashmina is commenced. It is a stepwise procedure of curating fine Cashmere accessories. In addition, Pashmina is the crafting of the finest Cashmere procured from Ladakh. Consequently, it gives the premium style viz; Cashmere Wraps, Cashmere Scarves, and Pashmina Shawls.

The first step in Pashmina art is cleaning the Cashmere procured from Ladakh. The wool is thoroughly cleaned to get all the dirt and grime out. After the process of cleaning, the next step is the process of Spinning. It begins by giving the local women Cashmere wool to spin to fine Cashmere yarn. The womenfolk of the valley mainly spin Cashmere wool. Done on the wooden wheel/ charkha called yinder in the local language. Thus, the women artisans meticulously spin the Cashmere wool to the finest Cashmere yarn.

Handweaving of the finest Cashmere Yarns

Afterward, the spun Cashmere yarn is taken to the local workshops/karkhanas to move ahead in the Pashmina Art. The next process is the weaving process. The weaving is the transformation of Cashmere yarn to fine Cashmere fabric. Done by the artisans on Handlooms made from forest wood. The intricate warps and wefts create the beautiful woven Cashmere fabric. Therefore, the most common pattern in weaving is chashm-e-bulbul or the diamond weave. Thus, the weave is exclusively the masterpiece in itself. The eloquently woven Cashmere fabric goes on to further design in different styles. The three main styles are Cashmere Wraps, Cashmere Scarves, and Pashmina Shawls.

What is Cashmere Wrap?

A wrap is the newer term for the outer clothing that covers the body. All shawls and stoles can come under the term of Wraps but not all wraps are shawls. In other words, the Word Wrap means "the outer covering". Therefore, in the fashion world, wraps are precisely termed accessories that cover the outer body. In the world of fashion, it's a contemporary term. Cashmere Wraps are supremely premium quality accessories. Therefore, crafted with precision and skill, they belong to the class of originality.

Cashmere Wraps are supremely high-quality accessories for the people of Pashmina. The elegance in every masterpiece of Cashmere Wraps is up to the mark of authenticity. From the finest Cashmere of Ladakhi Changra goats, the supreme Cashmere Wraps are created. After it reaches the valley of Kashmir, the Pashmina Art supplicates the fineness of Cashmere with curation and design. The creation of premium Cashmere Wraps profoundly merges with the heritage of the Kashmir Valley.

In modern times, the styles are tinged with contemporary themes. Yet, the essence of traditions and heritage lives along with each piece of Pashmina Art. From the royals to the new generation of people, Cashmere Wraps have assisted everyone with its gleaming eyes of creativity. Thus, with the sense of heritage along with the themes of modernism, Cashmere Wraps cater to all generations. In addition, Cashmere accessories confer to all genders the same supremacy in quality. Also, there are numerous designs in the style of Cashmere Wraps viz; Solid Cashmere Wraps, Embroidered Cashmere Wraps, Shibori Cashmere Wraps, etc.

Defining the Shibori Cashmere Wraps

Shibori is a Japanese manual resist dyeing technique that produces scattered patterns on a Cashmere Wrap. The technique produces numerous different patterns on the Cashmere Wraps in diverse colors. The process of the Shibori designing technique has steps to create a beautiful array of patterns on the Cashmere Wraps. Moreover, all the steps take place at the place of the dyer called Rangur in local parlance. The dyer arranges a wide array of colors to be dyed on the finest Cashmere Wrap.

Firstly, the hand-woven Cashmere Wrap is folded or tied with wooden blocks or clips in a pattern that the design prescribed. Depending on the resist-dyeing technique chosen, there is the use of rubber bands, clips, clamps, or wooden blocks. Afterward, pinched and bound off in different ways to craft the exquisite prints of Shibori. After the binding of the Cashmere Wrap, submerged in the dye bath to infuse color. The dyes used are skin friendly as well as eco-friendly.

In Shibori design, there are several ways of tying the Cashmere wrap to get the required patterned print. The patterns include a cloud or floret pattern, a striated pattern, and geometric shapes like triangles and squares. After the Cashmere wrap has been dyed, it is left to dry in the natural sunshine before untying the knots. Afterward, the Shibori Cashmere Wraps, permed on a roller iron and packed in for our warehouse are premium.

Also read: HOW TO CLEAN CASHMERE?

Pashmina.com revive the Shibori Cashmere Wraps

We, at pashmina.com, revive the handicraft of Pashmina by defining it in beautiful designs like the Shibori technique. The beauty of both the traditional handicrafts reveals the luxury in many ways. Wearing the premium Shibori Cashmere Wraps define the grace of classic yet new-age fashion accessory. Therefore, the endless collection on our platform profuses the luxurious crafting in each masterpiece. Defining the horizon of Kashmir Valley, purity belongs to the finest Cashmere. The beauty of each and every masterpiece caters to people who are lovers of Pashmina Art.

Moreover, Pashmina art is not only traditional art but is the essence of livelihood for the artisans of Kashmir valley. The artisans work day and night to craft the finest fashion accessories to be looked at as the epitome of luxury. Therefore, Pashmina.com supports the Artisan community to craft authentic Pashmina which is their craft for generations. In addition, there is ethical procurement and every step is hand-made. Thus, reflecting the concept of Environmental friendly in each step and defining Sustainable fashion in every process of crafting in Pashmina.

Also read: IS CASHMERE THE SAME AS PASHMINA?