Pashmina and Silk are two different things. Pashmina is the craft and Silk is the fabric. It is the crafting of the finest Cashmere wool. On the other hand, Silk is the fabric obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm. Cashmere, the wool for Pashmina Art is the finest and silk is delicate. Cashmere is obtained from Changra Goats and Silk is obtained from Silkworms. In addition, Pashmina is a handicraft, and Silk fabric is machine-made. Also, Pashmina is the craft of Kashmir, and Silk fabric is crafted in several states. Moreover, Pashmina is a rare craft and silk is the craft abundance. Cashmere is the luxurious wool and Silk is the fabric of sheen. There is a great difference in the procurement of both.

Procurement of Cashmere for Pashmina

cashmere goat
Cashmere goat in Ladakh

The creation begins in the horizons of the Ladakh region. The Changhthanghi mountain of the Ladakh region has the coldest temperature in winter. A rare breed of Goats dwells in its feet. The goats are of the Changra breed. They are also called Cashmere Goats. These are medium-sized goats with two twisted horns. The Changra goats develop soft thick wool on their bodies to combat the low temperature. The wool is descriptively soft in appearance and thick in volume. Moreover, the wool is shed off during the summertime by the goats themselves against rocks and trees. Manually, the wool is also combed out by the herders of the Changpa tribe. The wool is called the finest Cashmere wool.

Afterward, the tufts of wool are packed to transfer to the valley of Kashmir. There begins the Pashmina Art of crafting the finest Cashmere wool for diverse accessories.

The Spinning and the Weaving

spinning the cashmere
Artisan spinning the cashmere

After the Cashmere wool reaches the valley of Kashmir, it undergoes the process of cleaning. The Cashmere wool is thoroughly cleaned to get the dirt, dust, and grime out. After the meticulous cleaning, the Cashmere wool goes into the journey of Spinning. The process of transforming the Cashmere wool to fine Cashmere yarn is Spinning. The process is precisely done on a wooden wheel called yinder. They move the wheel in a circular motion with one hand and with another hand they elongate the wool into yarn. Thus, creating fine Cashmere yarn from the Cashmere wool.

Afterward, the Cashmere yarn is transferred to the local workshops/karkhanas for the process of weaving. Weaving is the process of precisely looming warps and wefts to create a thin and soft fabric of Cashmere. The weaving is done on the handloom made of forest wood. The handloom is worked upon by highly skilled artisans. The artisans work on the handloom by simultaneously using their feet and hands to create the woven Cashmere fabric. The weaving is mainly done by the menfolk of the valley.

Production of Silk

Silk is obtained from the cocoon of the moth of the silkworm. It is courser and is very delicate. It is made thicker by spinning it several times to make the strength to make fabric. The thicker thread made from spinning can be done by hand machines like charkha. In power machines in the factory, it is also done. Also, another material blending is done by adding poly or cotton or anything so that the thread is stronger to survive.

In other words, the process starts with Sericulture which is the process of gathering silkworms and harvesting the cocoon to collect the materials required. Then, after maturation, the silkworm will begin spinning its cocoon by rotating its body in a figure-8 movement around 300,000 times. Afterward, there are the steps of thread extraction, Spinning, Dyeing, Weaving, and Printing. This completes the production.

Also read: HOW ARE PASHMINA SHAWLS MADE?

Versatile nature of Pashmina and Silk

pashmina shawl
In the shade of Ivory and the tone of Toosh, the fineness of Cashmere wool breathes near the Garden of Eden Kani Pashmina Shawl

Pashmina is versatile in every aspect. It can be worn in every season, especially in winter. The warmth and softness of Pashmina accessories are a forte of luxurious quality. Cashmere is the finest and is not blended with any other thing. Pashmina is the pure and genuine handicraft of Kashmir. It is the token of the heritage of Kashmir valley. Silk is also a versatile fabric as there are various kinds of Silk like Raw silk, Tussar Silk, etc. And the fabric is usually worn in summer. In addition, Silk is a fabric that is crafted for distinct things. Also, Silk is mainly blended with other types of fabrics like cotton, etc.

Also read: WHICH REGION IS FAMOUS FOR PASHMINA SHAWL?