Pashmina is synonymous with a luxurious and tasteful life. It conjures up the image of opulence and royalty. Made with the finest wool, Kashmiri shawl has indeed enthralled people for centuries and beyond.
The journey of Pashm from the underbelly of goats to a beautiful work of art, speaks volumes about the traditional heritage of Kashmir. The elegant and luxurious Pashmina shawls have always been in the limelight. Additionally, the mighty Mughal emperors and fashion-conscious French aristocrats have been left absolutely spellbound.
Here are a few of the historical figures who didn’t hide their love for this symbol of luxury
Emperor Akbar's love for Pashmina
Under the Mughal patronage, Kashmiri shawl manufacturing grew by leaps and bounds. Impressed by the softness and elegance of Pashm wool, Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced a few Mughal motifs. Pashmina shawls, scarves, and stoles now saw palmettes, tendrils, and other floral designs. In fact, even today, you can find these motifs on hand-embroidered Pashmina shawls and stoles. Moreover, Akbar set up several manufacturing units under his reign, to promote Pashmina making. To show his love and fascination for the shawls, he decided to add something more. He dabbled with different styles of wearing the shawl.
Also read: 5 Must-have Kashmiri Shawls for all times!
Emperor Jahangir's admiration for Pashmina
Prized for an extraordinary elegance, Kashmiri shawl got a mention in the memoirs of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Pashmina was famous for being his favorite piece of clothing. Not just that, his memoirs mention that he gave Pashmina as gifts to notable courtiers. Holy men received specially made Pashmina shawls as gifts for their spiritual contribution
Julius Caesar - in love with Kashmiri Shawl
Cashmere shawls have been mentioned in ancient texts. Those can be traced back to the 2nd century BC. During the times of Julius Caesar and Nero, Roman nobles wore Kashmiri shawls and stoles from India. These highly expensive pieces of clothing were a show of social status and opulence.
Napoleon Bonaparte - a true patron of Kashmiri Shawl
To many, this may come as surprise. French statesman Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife owned the largest collection of Pashmina shawls. The story goes that Napoleon gifted his wife a cashmere stole. Undoubtedly, she was smitten by the texture, elegance, and overall look of the stole and asked for more. She kept some for herself and some for her super-wealthy friends too. There’s a famous portrait of hers, showing her wearing an elegant Pashmina stole. Kashmiri shawl became more popular and as a result, European merchants started traveling to India to get these shawls.
Of course, you want to recreate the royal look of yesteryear. In that case, splurge on the best quality Pashmina shawls, stoles, and scarves. To ensure that the shawl you are wearing is pure, shop from Pashm. Pashm is a luxury brand of authentic and certified Pashmina wraps from Pashmina.com. We, at Pashm, offer handcrafted and hand-embroidered Pashmina products.