Basking in the sunshine, one comes across so many exquisite entities bestowed by nature. Pashmina is one of the explicit virtues of the Art. On the other hand, Cashmere is one of the finest and softest wools across the globe. There have been several facts about what's the difference between Pashmina and Cashmere. You must be wondering now for ages about this question! There has always been confusion about the debate of the difference between the two. As these finest accessories are expensive, one thinks of being profoundly clear about the fact of the difference. Pashmina and Cashmere both are at such high fineness and integrity that one gets curious to know about the difference. In every sphere of literature, there has been a subtle talk of Pashmina and Cashmere. They have been efficiently co-related because of their fineness and expensive nature.

Gasping on the facts about the difference, history makes its way towards the present. Churning back on the time, we have known several incidents and facts resembling the creation of Pashmina and Cashmere. There is a proper timeline of their creation in the most natural way. Looking back on history, one comes across the fineness and opulence of the two more evidently due to the relation of royals with the craft.

The beginning - History captures Our Gaze

Looking beyond time, history depicts the arrival of Cashmere and Pashmina in the most natural way. Cashmere has been in the world since the 13th century in the region of Kashmir valley. Until the 19th century, the fine Cashmere wool, used by the Iranian rulers for several religious and political gatherings was explicit. In addition, in the 18th century, the glaze captured the Europeans and they started to import it to their countries especially Scotland and France.

The royals devoured the Cashmere to present an extraordinary luxury. Royalties decorated their royal courts with Pashmina craft. The most inspiring incident is that of when Napoleon and his army were coming back from Egypt, they met someone who owned exquisite Pashmina. Napoleon, fascinated by the appearance of Pashmina thus brought one for his wife, Empress Josephine. She, astonished by the artistic reproach determined to explore more of them. She immediately took the gift and perceived in mind the intricacy. In fact, it is said that she owned a few hundred Kani shawls from Kashmir. The Cashmere word, coined by the Europeans was due to the abundance of the finest Cashmere wool in the valley of Kashmir from where Pashmina art found its path. Thus, the resemblance in names is definite.

The Cashmere goat

As it comes from the rarest breed of Goats, the specialty reached the skies of royalty. From the time of civilizations, there are shreds of evidence of woolen shawls. Cashmere, from the fleece of rare nomadic breed of goats. The breed explicitly found between Mongolia, China, Iran, Tibet, Northern India, and Afghanistan is pure. The finest among all, obtained in the Ladakh region of India is Ladakhi cashmere. Thus, this fine wool awestruck all the universe from the beginning of the history of handicrafts.

The Art of Pashmina

On the other hand, Pashmina, the art of curating the Cashmere distinctly in several styles has a unique journey. It dates back to the 15th century in the Kashmir Valley of India. The footprints of a saint Mir Syed Ali Hamdani from the middle east came to Kashmir with 700 craftsmen to adorn the beauty of the valley and to spread the holy message. The saint landed its appearance in the Changthang Mountain in Ladakh. While perceiving nature, he locked his eyes on the Goat of marvelous wool. Awestruck with the softness and fineness of the wool, he made socks out of it and gifted them to the Sultan Zain-ul-Abideen of Kashmir Valley. By the beauty of Pashmina, suggested making an industry that cultivates the art of Pashmina with desirable styles. Even the name Pashmina, derived from the Persian word, pashm, meaning "the soft gold" is exquisite in being.

Also read: Pashmina Shawl: Testimony of the Travelers

Difference between Pashmina and Cashmere

Most of the time, the world around confers to Pashmina and Cashmere in the same way. But there are some differences between the two. Commencing the differences with the origin of the Cashmere wool. The finest Cashmere wool is obtained from the specific breed of Changra goats of Ladakh. While, Pashmina is the process spinning and weaving the finest Ladakhi Cashmere. In addition, several types of wool, especially obtained from sheep are also explicit. Cashmere wool on the other hand is obtained from the rarest breeds of goat. Also, distinct breeds prevail in the world. Malra breed, Chigu breed, Licheng breed, Tibetan breed, Liaoning breed, Changhthanghi breed, etc. are some of the breeds. Among all, Changhthanghi breed gives the finest Cashmere.

Cashmere, procured from the downy and woolly undercoat, especially from the underbelly of the Changra breed of goats from around the world especially from Mongolia, China, Iraq, Iran, Nepal is of premium quality. The purest wool from the feet of Changthangi mountain of the Ladakh region is the finest among all. Thus, the exclusive fleece used to create the finest Pashmina Shawls is Ladakhi Cashmere. These are the finest fleece from the rarest breed of Changra belonging to the tribe of Changpa who are the traditional nomadic herders of Changra Goats. The wool grown on the Changra goats is to combat the harsh winter season. Moreover, to overcome the heat of sunshine, it naturally sheds off fleece during the moulting season. The fleece combed manually is pure in form. Thereby, cultivated from nature to cherish every part of fleece.

From Cashmere to Pashmina

Thereby, bringing the fleece of Cashmere to pour the quality of highness by cleaning the fibres. Afterwards, the clean fibres, dried and soaked in the cast of sunlight are overall vivid. Cashmere wool, thereby translated into delicate yarn by the meticulous process called spinning. The creativity of nature with skilled artisans is tranquil to look upon. Therefore, they are meticulously working in the creation of it to preserve the life of nature. The several steps of transforming the finest Cashmere into diversified luxurious Shawls, Scarves and wraps belong to the Art of Pashmina. The whole process defines itself in the valley of Kashmir.

Cashmere is the finest fibre from Changra Goats. Whilst, Pashmina Art is the luxurious spinning and weaving of finest Cashmere fibre.

The Exclusive breed of Goats

Cashmere Shawls, procured from the fleece of different breeds of goat is the warm wool. Cashmere wool can be procured from around the world of subspecies of goats. Finest form is exclusively obtained from the Changra breed of Goats. These goats, found at the foot of Changhthangi mountain are rarest. The Changthang region produces around 35,000 kg of raw Cashmere every year from about 0.15 million Changra goats. Therefore, forms 80% of the total Cashmere for Pashmina Art production in the country. Also called Capra Hircus, the Changra breed gives the extraordinarily finest Cashmere wool from where a finest level of art called Pashmina is defined.

Pashmina vs Cashmere- Difference in definition

The distinction in the definition makes a huge difference between the two. In simpler words, Cashmere is the finest wool from the Changra goats. Whilst, Pashmina is the name given to the art of creatively processing exclusive Shawls, scarves and wraps from finest Cashmere fibre. Henceforth, Pashmina is the art of spinning and weaving Cashmere from the downy undercoat of the Changra goat to curate luxury Shawls, Scarves, and Wraps. In addition, generic Cashmere ranges from 12 to 20 microns. Also,the transforming of finest Cashmere of 12 to 16 microns range in distinct styles is termed as Pashmina Art.

Generic Cashmere ranges from 12 to 20 microns. On the other hand, the finest Cashmere of 12 to 16 microns is transformed into diverse styles of accessories like Shawls, Scarves and Wraps is the Pashmina Art

The production quantity

Pashmina art caters to the finest Cashmere for several art styles. Cashmere, from an exclusive breed in a specific period of the year is explicit. Only around 80 to 170 gms of Ladakhi Cashmere are produced during a year span. Therefore, considered the rarest. Also, other varieties of it are produced several times more as there are almost 400 million Cashmere producing Goats all over the world. Consequently, the production caters to the manufacture of different styles like Pashmina Shawls, Cashmere Scarves, and Wraps.

Cashmere, a well defined ash-colored fibre from the Changra Goats whereas Pashmina, an art of weaving and spinning Cashmere to confer distinct varieties of accessories like Shawls, Wraps, and Scarves

A Marvel of Luxurious Fashion

We at pashmina.com cater to the most authentic Cashmere wool directly obtained from the tribes of Changpa of Changthangh. Also, the finest Pashmina Shawls, in the form of several styles are explicitly curated. We, confer to the premium quality Cashmere scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls in a unique way.

The handcrafted worth belongs to the skill of artisans of the valley. The heritage and the livelihood of the valley revived in the most authentic way are itself necessary. The exclusive collection for every gender, catered on the platform is exquisite. The presence of Pure Cashmere and the art of Pashmina cherishes our collection with full valour. The difference between the two, cherished with more skill from the artisans is inevitable. Each masterpiece of finest Cashmere and Pashmina forms a revere of luxury at our online platform. The fashion of the world looks upon each of it with a glimpse of opulence.

Also read: Handmade Pashmina vs Machine Made Pashmina - The Difference