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

The word Pashmina comes from the root word "Pashm" which literally translates to "soft gold". Owing to the softness, fine texture, and rich appearance of Pashmina scarves and shawls, these were named so by Persians, who trained local Kashmiri artisans in processing Pashmina wraps. 

History

Pashmina originated in Kashmir. Raw Cashmere wool was discovered by a Persian Saint in Ladakh, and later processing units for the same were set up in Kashmir during the Mughal rule. Pashmina shawls were of super-fine quality. These were the softest and warm accessories of their time in around the 15th century. As soon as Pashmina scarves gained popularity locally and in India and Asia, Europeans too took interest in the same. They visited Kashmir, and absolutely loved these luxury accessories. Since then, huge export of Pashmina shawls started from India to the European nations especially France and Scotland. 

How is Pashmina made?

The worth of Pashmina is realized once one knows its making processes. The process begins in a cold and arid region of Ladakh, called Changthang. Winters at Changthang are severe and the temperature dips to -40 degrees C. It is this area where the Cashmere wool-producing goats are found. To combat such harsh winter, nature bestows a warm fleece over the body of this goat. This grows as a down coat and helps the goat to survive winter comfortably.

Come spring, the same wool is naturally shed by the goat. It rubs itself against coarse surfaces and gets rid of the wool, with some portion still on its body. This is combed off by professionals besides collecting the rest of the wool. It is cleaned, packed, and sent for processing. 

Processing begins in Kashmir, where women begin with cleaning the wool. Post cleaning, Cashmere wool is spun over a wooden Spinning wheel to convert it into yarn. The yarn is super fine and delicate. This is handed over to men, who mount the same on handlooms and begin weaving it. After 3-4 days, a luxury Pashmina scarf/shawl/wrap is complete. 

Also read: A LEGACY OF PASHMINA ART

Why is Pashmina Famous?

Being labour intensive, super warm, feathery light, and luxurious, Pashmina is expensive, as compared to its counterparts. But there are abundant reasons for it to be such a valuable asset. Here are a few reasons why Pashmina is considered expensive:

Cashmere wool has a limited production: A goat only yields 150-200 grams of wool per year. Yet the demand for Pashmina scarves is much more. Due to this imbalance in demand and supply, scarves are expensive. 

Season Bound: Cashmere wool is grown on the body of the goat in winters only, and is shed in the Spring-Summer season. It is a hot summer when the goat sheds the wool, which is collected, processed, and sold. Hence it takes one full year to collect just 150-200 grams of Cashmere.

Difficult to procure: Cashmere goats are found in the high hilly areas of the Himalayas. To procure Cashmere, one has to travel a lot, with major difficulties to acquire the same. 

Intensive labour work: To convert raw lumps of Cashmere wool into yarn and then into luxury shawls and scarves, takes meticulous manual work. Women and men toil for months or years together to complete a single piece. 

The decreasing number of craftsmen: With fake Pashminas in the market, real art lost significance. Hence craftsmen began shifting to other art forms or simply jobs. With a small number of craftsmen continuing to process Cashmere wool, its value has increased even more. 

Time-consuming: The product is highly time-consuming. Large shawls made from Cashmere wool are handspun and handwoven and this process takes 4 to 5 years at times.

Is Pashmina Expensive?

Owing to the reasons mentioned above, Pashmina is one of the most expensive wool types in the world. A solid plain scarf made from Cashmere wool costs $100 USD. Large shawls and wraps with embroidery patterns over them at times cost 8 to 10 thousand dollars. Hence Pashmina shawls, wraps, or scarves are a huge investment and should be purchased carefully from authentic vendors.

Pashmina is worth every effort we make to own it. A Pashmina scarf or shawl is lightweight, fine, soft, and warm. It is a must-have for winters, as well as Spring and fall. It looks as well as feels luxurious. Even though it might seem expensive, it is undoubtedly worth a try.

Also read: IS PASHMINA A WOOL?

Pashmina is one of the explicit virtues of Art. You must be wondering if Pashmina is pure wool. Basically, 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. There has always been confusion about the debate on the difference between the two. As these finest accessories are expensive, one thinks of being profoundly clear about the fact of 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.

The Horizon of finest Cashmere

It all starts in the realms of Changhthanghi mountain of Ladakh. The temperature goes to a minimum in winter. A rare breed of Goats lives in the minus temperature. They are called Changra Goats. These goats develop thick wool on their bodies to combat the harsh winter. Eventually, seasons change. In summers, the Changra Goats shed off the thick wool against rocks and trees due to the heat in the air. The wool is also manually combed out by the herders. The herders of the Changpa tribe manually comb out the wool. The wool is called Cashmere wool. It is the softest and finest wool. The wool is further crafted in the horizons of Kashmir Valley in the name of Pashmina Art.

Description of Pashmina Art as the crafting of Cashmere

In the realms of Kashmir Valley, the finest Ladakhi Cashmere is crafted for many fine accessories of Cashmere through the Art of Pashmina. The artisans work meticulously on each and every piece of fine Cashmere. When the tufts of Cashmere wool reach Kashmir from Ladakh, the wool is cleaned, soaked, and dried to free from any impurity. Thus, the Cashmere wool undergoes the first process of Pashmina Art. Afterward, the fine and cleaned Cashmere is transferred to the local houses for the process of Spinning.

The process of Spinning is transforming the fine Cashmere wool into Cashmere yarn. The women in the households perform the precise process of Spinning. The Spinning process needs patience and precision. While humming the traditional Kashmir songs, the women meticulously spin the Cashmere wool on a wooden wheel called yinder. Therefore, the Cashmere yarn was formed to made to go forward to the next intricate process of Weaving.

The weaving of finest Cashmere

Weaving is the process of creating warps and wefts by using yarn to create a surface of the fabric. Thus, the Cashmere yarn is transformed to make the fine Cashmere fabric on the handloom. The handloom is made up of forest wood. It is worked upon by highly skilled artisans of the Valley. Therefore, the Cashmere yarn is transformed into fine Cashmere fabric through the process of Weaving. The artisans work meticulously over the handlooms set up at local workshops/karkhanas. Artisans work days and nights to procure the high-quality Cashmere fabric by means of their hands and feet working on a handloom.

Pashmina is a Craft!

The finest Cashmere wool is obtained from the specific breed of Changra goats of Ladakh. While Pashmina is the process of spinning and weaving the finest Ladakhi Cashmere. In addition, several types of wool, especially those obtained from sheep are also explicit.

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.

Cashmere is the finest wool and Pashmina is the crafting

Cashmere, from the fleece of a 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.

On the other hand, Pashmina, the art of curating 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. 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: IS CASHMERE THE SAME AS PASHMINA?

History of Pashmina Art

The story of the finest Cashmere dates back to the 13th century. A sage from the Middle East, Mir Syed Ali Shah Hamdani started his journey with 700 craftsmen towards Kashmir. On his journey to Kashmir, he encountered the rare goats of Ladakh. He was enthralled by the fine wool on their bodies. He combed some out of them and made socks. The fine socks were warm and Pure. He gifted them to the ruler of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abideen. In addition, he suggested making a local industry to curate the fine wool. His 700 craftsmen taught the people of Kashmir several skills. The skills proved to be the main requisite for curating the finest Cashmere. Thus, the art of Pashmina came into existence. The high skill prevails in the valley till now. It has been incorporated into the heritage of Kashmir Valley. 

Also read: CRAFTING OF DO-RUKHA PASHMINA SHAWL

Ladakhi Cashmere is the finest wool of 12 to 16 microns in diameter. The vows of Cashmere reflect on the Kashmir Valley with the Art of Pashmina. Henceforth, the premium crafting of the finest Cashmere of Changra Goats is the Pashmina Art. The high-quality Pashmina Art throws a cast of creativity into the finest Cashmere. In addition, the extremely exquisite crafting blesses the finest Cashmere to enthrall the world. The creation of Cashmere Scarves belongs to the high-class form of Pashmina Art. There are endless reasons for terming Cashmere Scarf a premium masterpiece. Defining and redefining each step in making profuse the luxury of Cashmere Scarves.

Finest Cashmere is procured in Ladakh

At the feet of the Changhthanghi mountain of Ladakh, the Changra goats dwell. Changra goats are a rare breed of Goats. Several breeds produce Cashmere in the world. But the Changra Goats are the rare species of goats that produce the finest Cashmere wool. These goats are medium-sized with long twisted horns. The winter in the Changhthanghi region is harsh and goes to a minimum of 20°C. The Changra Goats dwell in a harsh climate. To combat the coldness of the season, they develop thick and soft wool. The wool is developed on various regions of the body especially the neck, underbelly, and back of the ears. Eventually, the season change, and the heat of summer confers upon the region. The Changra Goats shed off their thick wool in summers. Also, combed out manually by the herders of the Changpa tribe of the Chanthanghi region

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 the Cashmere wool that produces the warmth. The exclusive breed of goats called Changra Goats is rare species of goats.

In addition, the Goats produce the 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. Consequently, the production caters to the manufacture of different styles like Pashmina Shawls, Cashmere Scarves, and Cashmere Wraps.

Vows of Pashmina Art

Pashmina Art is the curation of the fine Ladakhi Cashmere to finest Cashmere accessories like Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls. The tufts of wool are transferred to the Valley of Kashmir in small packets. The journey begins from Ladakh and crafts itself in Kashmir. The tufts of wool are cleaned thoroughly and dried in the air of the sun. This commences the process of Pashmina Art. After the process of cleaning and drying, the Cashmere wool is translated to the fine Cashmere yarn in the households. The women work meticulously on the wooden wheel called yinder for the process of Spinning. The translation of Cashmere wool to fine Cashmere yarn is spinning. It is done by whirling the Cashmere wool on the yinder to spin it. Thus, making the finest Cashmere yarn out of it. Spinning is mostly done by the womenfolk of the Valley.

Moreover, the Cashmere yarn thus produced confers to the purest and finest yarn of 12 to 16 microns. The finest Cashmere yarn moves further in the procedure radiating the Art of Pashmina. After the process of Spinning, the process of transforming Cashmere yarn into fine Cashmere fabric begins. Done by the process of Weaving. It is the translation of Cashmere yarn to Cashmere fabric. Therefore, the weavers of the Kashmir Valley profoundly weave the fine yarn into the fine fabric on the handloom made of forest wood. The process of weaving is to use Cashmere yarn to create warps and wefts. Thus, producing a whole fine Cashmere fabric. Therefore, the Cashmere produced is given the required dimensions. Thus, diverse styles like Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls are crafted.

Cashmere Scarf is a premium Pashmina Art accessory

A scarf is a square piece of clothing draped around the neck or shoulders. The explicit styles with these finest Cashmere. The premium quality Cashmere scarves bring out the aura of colorful and elegant luxury. The versatile styles of unique designs of Cashmere Scarves are examples of high-class fashion. They cater to all genders with exquisite collections. The artisans work upon each masterpiece with precision. Thus, to provide serene exclusiveness.

The explicit and intricate creation of Cashmere Scarf from the finest Cashmere is tremendous. The different styles and designs confer to the unique amalgamation of luxury and Purity. The Cashmere Scarf perform in the realms of Pashmina Art with the most sophisticated of designs. Moreover, today's generation feels the aura of authentic Cashmere in their lifestyles. This proves that not only the royals but also the people of admiration for Pashmina wear the new class Cashmere Scarf. In the contemporary world of fashion, the premium Cashmere scarves prove to be the confidante of authenticity.

Also read: WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF CASHMERE?

Dimensions of premium Cashmere Scarf

The unique crafting of Cashmere Scarves obliges the artistic hand of Artisans. Hence, the artisans of the valley are highly skilled artisans are the masters of Pashmina Art. Generations of artisans are working in the tranquil field of Pashmina. Therefore, the exquisite craft is dignified in the realms of Kashmir Valley. The profound craft feels the dimensions of Cashmere Scarves. Mainly, there are two sizes for Cashmere Scarves. They are; 80in x 14in/2m x 35cm and 80in x 28in/2m x 70cm. The dimensions of each Cashmere Scarf befit royal fashion as well as contemporary fashion.

Premium scenes in Pashmina accessories

We, at pashmina.com bless the world with premium luxurious pieces from Kashmir. The endless collection of Pashmina Art speaks of the finest Cashmere with precision. Preferring sustainability and luxury in one frame, we enthrall our collection with nature. In addition, artisans gift their skill through each style and every design in Pashmina Art. Having one of our luxuries in your closet fill your timeless beauty with glory.

Also read: IS CASHMERE SCARF GOOD FOR WINTER?

In the beauty of unique fashion, the Pashmina Art never ceases to amaze the intricate styles. Beyond the dimensions in the designing process, Pashmina Shawl is everlasting in its glory. There are several styles and designs in the realm of Pashmina Art. Among every beautiful intricacy, there is the dime of Do-rukha Pashmina Shawl. Do-rukha Pashmina Shawl is the bounty of nature showing endless gratitude towards artisans. Do-rukha, which means "two faces" is the mesmerizing style in Pashmina Art.

The elegance of it filled with luxury keeps you warm in the cold season. The finest Cashmere from Ladakh perfects your look in the winters with its accessories of glory. In so many outranking accessories of Pashmina Art, the Do-rukha explicitly define the skill of artisans who the natives of the Kashmir Valley.

Procure the Ladakhi Cashmere

The Changhthanghi mountains are at high altitudes. The temperature goes to minus 20°C in winter. The harsh climate affects all species. Therefore, in response, a rare breed of goats called Changra developed thick wool over their bodies. These goats are medium-sized with two twisted horns. Thus, protecting themselves from the harsh weather. The wool is soft and fine. In the summertime, they shed off the wool to feel fresh in the heat of sunshine. The wool is called fine Cashmere wool. The wool is also manually combed out by the Changpa tribe herders.

There are diverse breeds that produce Cashmere in the world. But the Ladakhi goats produce the finest Cashmere. In addition, Mongolia, China, and Tibet are the largest producers of Cashmere wool. Yet, the Ladakhi Cashmere has the finest grade but its production is quite low due to the rare goats of Changra.

The Ladakhi Cashmere wool is the finest Cashmere wool of all. Although, there is a diverse breed of Goats that produce Cashmere wool. But the Ladakhi Cashmere wool is 12 to 16 microns in diameter. Hence, the finest Cashmere around the world. The production quantity is low in comparison to other breeds because the Changra goats are the rarest. Thus, they are only found in Changhthanghi, Ladakh.

Profuse in the Art of Pashmina

The tufts of Cashmere wool from Changra Goats in Changhthanghi reach the Kashmir Valley in small packets. The art of Pashmina caters to these tufts of Cashmere wool. Therefore, the Cashmere wool is cleaned, soaked, and dried in the sunlight to get the dirt, and grime of any sort apart. Afterward, the Cashmere wool is taken to the households where women folk spin the Cashmere wool into fine yarn. The spinning process is done on the wheel of wool called yinder in the local language. The women spun the Cashmere wool diligently to get the finest Cashmere yarn.

Further, the Cashmere yarn is taken to the local karkhanas/workshops where several handlooms are fixed. These handlooms are made of forest wood. The highly skilled artisans work upon the handlooms using their hands and feet in coordination with the process. The process of weaving is to use Cashmere yarn to create warps and wefts. Thus, producing a whole fine Cashmere fabric.

Do-rukha Style in Pashmina Art

Reversible Pashmina is one of the designs about the intricate weaving by skilled artisans. It is also called do-rukha. Thus, the Reversible Pashmina Shawls are breathtakingly intricate. In the Reversible Pashmina Shawl, the weaving is done in such a way that the look on one side reflects on the other side of the Pashmina Shawl. Also, embroidery is done on one side but the technique is so skilled that it looks identical on both sides. They show the journey of the skill of artisans and the heritage of Kashmir Valley. The beauty of each masterpiece is defined in the cultural aura of Kashmir Valley. From procurement from Ladakh to the crafting in Kashmir Valley, the marvelous crafting enthralls.

Reversible Pashmina Shawls are versatile in their being. The artisans work day and night on the handloom to get the perfect weave. The unique definition of art is in the intricacy of Reversible Pashmina Shawls.

Also read: WHY IS PASHMINA SHAWL ON HIGH DEMAND?

Defining the origin of Pashmina

The life of the finest Cashmere dates back to the 13th century. A sage from the Middle East, Mir Syed Ali Shah Hamdani started his journey with 700 craftsmen towards Kashmir. On his journey to Kashmir, he encountered the rare goats of Ladakh. He was enthralled by the fine wool on their bodies. He combed some out of them and made socks. The fine socks were warm and Pure. He gifted them to the ruler of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abideen. In addition, he suggested making a local industry to curate the fine wool. His 700 craftsmen taught the people of Kashmir several skills. The skills proved to be the main requisite of curating the finest Cashmere. Thus, the art of Pashmina came into existence. The high skill prevails in the valley till now. It has been incorporated into the heritage of Kashmir Valley. 

Collection of Pashmina Art

We, at pashmina.com surpass the bounty of nature and reflect it in the rhymes of Pashmina Art. We 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.

Also read: WHAT IS THE BEST CASHMERE YARN?

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 Goat, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Hexi, Zhonghwei, Tibetan Plateau, Luliang breeds, Changthanghi, etc. Therefore, all the breeds produce the wool that produces the warmth. The exclusive breed of goats called Changra Goats is rare species of goats producing the finest Cashmere wool. It is 12 to 16 microns in diameter. Thus, it is the finest and best wool. It is translated to Cashmere yarn through the process of Spinning. It is the step in Pashmina Art. Hence, Pashmina Art is the crafting of the finest and best wool.

In addition, the Goats produce the fine 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. Consequently, the production caters to the manufacture of different styles like Pashmina Shawls, Scarves, and Wraps.

Procuring the finest Cashmere

It all begins in the Changhthanghi mountain of the Ladakh region. The temperature goes to the minimum in this region. A rare breed of goats dwells in the region. These goats are called Changra goats. They are also called Kashmir Goats. The goats develop a pelage of wool in the winter season to combat the harsh weather. Thereafter, in summers they shed off the wool to get the air. The wool is manually combed out by the herders of the Changpa tribe. The Changpa tribe mainly raises these medium-sized Changra goats with two twisted horns. They mainly raise them for wool production. Thus, the wool is called the finest Cashmere wool.

The Crafting of the finest Cashmere

Although there are several breeds of goats all over the world that produce Cashmere. But the finest Cashmere is produced by the Ladakhi Changra goats. In order to curate the fine accessories from the fine 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 accessories.

The foremost step is the cleaning of the Cashmere wool. There is a thorough cleaning of the wool to get all sorts of dirt out. After the process of cleaning, the next step is the process of Spinning. It begins by giving the local women the Cashmere wool to spin fine Cashmere yarn. The womenfolk of the valley mainly spin the Cashmere wool. The process is done on the wooden wheel/ charkha called yinder in the local language. Thus, the women artisans meticulously spin the fine wool into the miraculously fine yarn.

Eloquent Weaving and Designing

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 into a fine fabric. The intricate warps and wefts create the beautiful woven fabric. Therefore, the most common pattern in weave is chashm_e_bulbul or the diamond weave. The weave is exclusively the masterpiece in itself. The eloquently woven Cashmere fabric goes on to further design.

The diverse designs, patterns, weaves, and embroideries are further done on the Cashmere. The premium Pashmina Art steps ahead with the most explicit and intricate designs. It is to be noted that all the steps in the Art of Pashmina are manually done by artisans of Kashmir. Thus, the distinct designs cater to a diversity of people and the fashion world.

When and where does Cashmere originate?

The origin of the finest Cashmere dates back to the 13th century. A sage from the Middle East, Mir Syed Ali Shah Hamdani started his journey with 700 craftsmen towards Kashmir. On his journey to Kashmir, he encountered the rare goats of Ladakh. He was enthralled by the fine wool on their bodies. He combed some out of them and made socks. The fine socks were warm and Pure. He gifted them to the ruler of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abideen. In addition, he suggested making a local industry to curate the fine wool. His 700 craftsmen taught the people of Kashmir several skills. The skills proved to be the main requisite for curating the finest Cashmere. Thus, the art of Pashmina came into existence. The high skill prevails in the valley till now. It has been incorporated into the heritage of Kashmir Valley. 

Also read: WHICH COUNTRY HAS THE BEST CASHMERE?

Styles in Pashmina Art

The explicit and intricate creation of Cashmere Scarves from the finest wool is tremendous. The different styles and designs confer the unique amalgamation of luxury and fashion. Thus, the Scarves perform in the realms of Pashmina Art with the most sophisticated of designs.

The 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. Therefore, Cashmere Wraps are supremely premium quality accessories.

Pashmina Shawls bring the opulence of elegance through fashion. The masterpieces of the Pashmina Shawls create an aura of fashion for all genders of the world. The premium and high-quality Pashmina Shawls belong to the world of fashion in numerous ways. The Pashmina Shawls are made from intricate weaves, patterns, dyes, and embroideries. In addition, the warps and wefts are woven in such a manner that they create diverse patterns on the best Cashmere base.

Collection of finest Cashmere accessories

We, at pashmina.com, prefer the realms of Kashmir Valley for the crafting of the finest Cashmere. As the craft of Pashmina originated due to the grace of artisans of Kashmir Valley, the genuineness is intact in the landscape. Therefore, the unique and authentic ceremony of Pashmina Art is held near the soul of Kashmir. Have one of our beautiful Pashmina accessories and live the nature of Kashmir in each presence.

Also read: IS CASHMERE THE SAME AS PASHMINA?

The freezing cold days of the year are on their way. There is no better way to ease the low-temperature troubles than to wrap up oneself in layers. But do we feel at ease and in vogue when layering sweaters and coats and jackets all over each other? Or do we need a warmer layer that suffices all of these and helps us look stylish as well? Cashmere is the fabric to look forward to, as it has been tried and tested for centuries. Eight times warmer than sheep wool yet airy light and fine, a Cashmere scarf is the best accessory to choose as soon as the skies change colours.

Cashmere is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious fabrics that we might ever have owned. The fluffiness, soft touch, smooth finish and immense warmth it gives are all unparalleled. For being such extraordinarily supreme in quality, Cashmere scarves are often quite pricey and are hence a huge investment. If even after spending thousands of dollars for a Cashmere scarf, it receives any minute damage, one might be overwhelmed in addition to being worried. And sadly, a large number of users have often complained about their much-adored Cashmere scarves shedding. Cashmere scarves shed, and lose a lot of fibre from their surfaces. How and why this happens, we will know. But for that, we need to know the composition of Cashmere scarves and more. 

What is Cashmere?

Cashmere is the underbelly fleece of a Cashmere goat found in many cold and arid regions of Asia. The goat survives harsh cold temperatures (even -50 degrees C), and as a result, grows a fine and warm fleece on its underbelly. It is the Spring season when the fleece makes these goats uneasy and they rub their bodies against harsh surfaces, hence leaving a large portion of the fleece around. The remaining leftovers of the fleece are gently combed out of their bodies. This fleece is fine Cashmere, which is still in its raw and unprocessed form. This is to be processed manually to produce a Cashmere scarf. Processing takes place in Kashmir, North India. 

Processing Cashmere

The processing of Cashmere starts by cleaning it. Clean wool is hand spun by local women who mount it on a spinning wheel. The wool is hence transformed into fine threads which measure a minute of 12 to 15 microns. These fine threads are handwoven over manual looms later to craft fabrics. This is Cashmere fabric. A Cashmere scarf, shawl or wrap is cut out from this fabric roll in different sizes according to the customer's preference. 

Also read: IS CASHMERE AVAILABLE IN ABUNDANCE?

Why is a Cashmere scarf expensive?

When it comes to the price, Cashmere is one of the most expensive wool types in the world. Here are some reasons for the same.

• The goat that grows Cashmere as an undercoat is hard to find. It is present in the harshest climates and the toughest to reach plateaus in Asia. It endures one of the most bitter cold temperatures in the world to grow Cashmere which keeps it warm and alive.
• Finding the Cashmere goat and then acquiring its wool is a hard task and a challenge in itself. The goat is found over 15000 feet above sea level and its wool is only available in spring and summer.
• The goat produces just about 150 grams of Cashmere per year that makes it rare and hence expensive. 
• The wool takes months or even years of processing to be transformed to finished products.
• Cashmere fibre is the finest. The fibre measures just 12 to 15 microns in diameter. 
• Cashmere wool processing is manual and there is no inference of machines.

Why is my Cashmere scarf shedding?

The above-mentioned factors make Cashmere scarves expensive. And when such expensive scarves start shedding, it is totally worrying. It is however just the protein fibre, which is present in any animal hair such as Cashmere itself, angora and sheep wool that looks like the scarf is shedding. 

Here are some reasons why Cashmere scarves start shedding after some use.

• Improper washing: At times, the users of Cashmere scarves do not take proper care of these sensitive babies. Cashmere scarves are fine and delicate and hence need gentle washing. Washing the scarf in hot water or being too harsh while washing it can result in the overall damage, which includes shedding.
• General Wear and Tear: Cashmere scarves should not be worn everyday. A regular friction in the scarf can make it shed even faster.
• Proper storage: Storing a Cashmere scarf is the most careful activity when it comes to its protection from any damage. Cashmere should be wrapped in a muslin cloth and stored away from moisture or direct sunlight. 

The above precautions will prevent your scarf from shedding. If, however, the scarf has already been shed and looks shabby, place it in a ziplock bag and place the bag in the freezer overnight. In the morning, the scarf will look better and stop shedding. 

Also read: DOES THE CASHMERE SCARF SHRINK AFTER WASHING?

The world around reflects Pashmina and Cashmere in the same way. But there are some differences between the two. Commencing the differences with the origin of the wool. The finest Cashmere wool is obtained from the specific breed of Changra goats of Ladakh. While Pashmina is the process of spinning and weaving the finest Ladakhi Cashmere. In addition, several types of wool, especially those 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, the Changhthanghi breed gives the finest Cashmere.

Pashmina Art is the crafting of finest and softest Cashmere wool procured from Changra Goats who are the inhabitants of Changhthanghi, Ladakh.

The difference between Cashmere and Pashmina

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 the finest Cashmere fibre. Henceforth, Pashmina is the art of spinning and weaving 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 transformation of finest Cashmere of 12 to 16 microns range in distinct styles is termed, Pashmina Art.

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 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.

From the time of civilizations, there are shreds of evidence of woolen shawls. Cashmere, from the fleece of a 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. On the other hand, Pashmina, the art of curating Cashmere distinctly in several styles has a unique journey. It dates back to the 15th century in the Kashmir Valley of India.

How did Cashmere and Pashmina come into existence?

The soul 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. 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.

How is Ladakhi Cashmere procured?

The Changhthanghi region of Ladakh is at a high altitude. Therefore, the temperature is coldest there in winters. It goes to a minimum of -20°C. The habitat adapts to the harsh climate. A rare species of goats dwell at the feet of Changhthanghi mountain. They are called Changra Goats. They are medium-sized goats with two twisted horns. These goats are also called Kashmir Goats. In harsh winter, the Changra goats develop fine and soft wool under their bellies, behind ears, and on the neck. This is done to combat the cold weather. But eventually, when the summertime comes and sunshine is at its peak, the goats shed off the wool. The wool is also combed out manually by the herders of the Changpa tribe in Changhthanghi. And the fine wool is called Cashmere wool.

There are diverse breeds that produce Cashmere in the world. But the Ladakhi goats produce the finest Cashmere. In addition, Mongolia, China, and Tibet are the largest producers of wool. Yet, the Ladakhi Cashmere has the finest grade but its production is quite low due to the rare goats of Changra.

In Kashmir Valley, the craft begins

The finest Cashmere wool is transferred to the Valley of Kashmir in small packets. The tufts of Cashmere wool are hand cleaned, and hand sorted. Thereafter, the wool is spun across a wheel called yinder. Then, the magical yarn of Cashmere is whirled upon the wooden stick called thonchur by the process called pranch. Afterward, the yarn is taken to the local workshops where a handloom moves ahead with the process. The handlooms are made of forest wood. The highly skilled artisans work upon the handloom with their hands and feet to curate the finest Cashmere fabric. This is called Weaving. Thus, after the process of Weaving, there is the proper designing process that decides the faith of the finest Cashmere.

Versatile styles of Cashmere in Pashmina Art

There are three main styles in Pashmina Art viz; Cashmere Wraps, Scarves, and Pashmina Shawls. In these elegant styles, there are innumerable designs in the creation of Pashmina Art. In addition, there are two styles in Men's Pashmina viz; Scarves and Shawls. There are diverse designs in the Art of Pashmina. Thus, the faith of each style of Pashmina Art is decided in the design. The designs can be in patterns, embroideries, weaves, embellishments, digital paints, or dyes.

Also read: HOW CAN YOU TELL A REAL PASHMINA FROM A FAKE?

Eloquent Collection of Pashmina

We, at pashmina.com, belong to the eloquent definition of Pashmina art. From the journey in the Changhthanghi Ladakh, the path goes on in the Valley of Kashmir. The rhymes of artisans are significantly in a song of homage to the heritage and skill. Also, the craft of Pashmina defines several styles and designs. We, profoundly present the world with premium and finest quality Pashmina accessories. Thus, having one of the masterpieces eloquently reflects the luxurious glory in every sphere of fashion.

Also read: WHAT IS PASHMINA EMBROIDERY?

Cashmere scarves are exquisite accessories handcrafted by skilled artisans manually. These luxury wraps use raw Cashmere wool, which is hand spun and hand woven to come up with these ideal winter wraps. The making of Cashmere scarf is, however, not as simple as it seems. It is, in fact, an intricate and meticulous set of painstaking processes which gives the world such resplendent Shawls, scarves or accessories. 

What is Cashmere?

Cashmere is the down fibre of a rare goat species found in the Himalayas. China and Mongolia are the highest producers of Cashmere (about 90% of the total world production). But the finest Cashmere comes from Ladakh, which produces less than 1% of the total production in the world. Less quantity yet exceptional quality of Ladakhi Cashmere makes this variety the most cherished and demanded one. Pashmina shawls, which need no introduction in the entire world, are made from Ladakhi Cashmere. 

One Ladakhi goat produces just 150 -200 grams of Cashmere wool per year. This limited production makes it necessary to obtain wool from 3-4 goats in order to make one cashmere scarf of measurements 100*200 cm approx.

Processing of Cashmere

Winter in Ladakh is one of the harshest in the world. Temperatures drop to -50 degrees C, and hence make it difficult to cope up for every living being. As such, fortunately nature bestows the goats with a warm and soft fleece which grows over its underbelly, neck, behind the ears and a few more smaller parts. The wool is so warm and comfortable that the goat survives these conditions easily. 

However, As soon as summer marks its arrival, the goat experiences some hormonal changes. The wool makes it feel really hot and uncomfortable and it starts rubbing its body against coarse surfaces around. As a result, rough stones, walls, bushes and a few places are found to be filled with goat wool. Some portion left on the goat's body is gently combed off with specialized combs and tools. All of this wool is collected and cleaned. This is it from Ladakh. For processing, the wool is sent to Kashmir. 

Processing

Processing starts at Kashmir with cleaning the wool again. Clean wool lumps are then soaked into a paste of rice powder and water. This gives the fibre strength and a smooth texture. It is removed after 3 days from the mixture and cleaned again. Cleaned and pure Cashmere wool is now sent for spinning to experienced womenfolk. These women mount the lumps of wool over a wooden spinning wheel. Lumps of wool are hence converted to the finest yarn, whose diameter is just 12-16 microns. 

Next step is weaving this fine yarn to get a fabric. This is done by men, who sit in a combination of 2 or 3 over a traditional wooden hand loom and weave the yarn for 3-4 days to produce Cashmere shawls, scarves, or just fabric of large sizes for apparel. Cashmere shawls are locally called Pashmina shawls. 

Also read: DOES THE CASHMERE SCARF SHRINK AFTER WASHING?

How do you make a Cashmere scarf?

A Cashmere scarf is handcrafted out of Cashmere fabric that has been handspun and hand woven from raw under fibre of a Cashmere goat. Small sized pieces of 35*200 cms are separated from the fabric roll and given a proper finish to bring into existence a luxury Cashmere scarf. 

Cashmere scarves can be crafted in many patterns:

• Solid Cashmere scarves are simply cut from the large Cashmere fabric roll, washed and ironed for a clean look
• Printed Cashmere scarves are printed in traditional and modern patterns to suit the needs of all. 
• Patterned Cashmere scarves are dyed in several colours and hence patterned as striped, chequered or in any contemporary design
• Embroidered Cashmere scarves are hand embroidered in a large number of traditional embroidery types. As such, there exist tilla embroidered, sozni embroidered and paper mache embroidered Cashmere scarves. 
• Kani Cashmere scarves are made in the realms of Kani art where large number of colourful threads create beautiful motifs on the base of the scarf. 

Hence, Cashmere scarves can be crafted in a few days or might take years to complete. However, if the scarf is solid with no prints or embroidery, it might take 3 to 5 days. But if the scarf is embroidered.

Also read: HOW CAN YOU TELL A REAL PASHMINA FROM A FAKE?

The Pashmina Art is rich in the heritage of Kashmir Valley. The versatile nature of Pashmina Art nurtures the serene accessories from the finest Cashmere. Nature has longed for the world of fashion to curate the most natural accessories. In the divine land of Kashmir, Pashmina Art has diverse styles. Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps and Pashmina Shawls are exquisite styles. In the distinct styles, different designs and patterns on which the whole luxury is defined. Hand-Embroidery is one of a kind. The explicit and intricate hand embroideries over the finest Cashmere belong to the class of premium luxurious fashion.

The Finest Cashmere Wool

The Changhthanghi plateau extends in the region of Ladakh. It is a high-altitude region in Ladakh. The herders around the Ladakhi Changhthanghi are of the Changpa tribe. The tribe herds the rarest breed of Goats called Changra goats. At high altitudes, the temperature lowers to the minimum. The winters are the harshest in this region of Changhthanghi. Therefore, the Changra goats naturally cover their bodies with thick wool to combat the harsh winters. All along the winters, the thick wool reserves the heat beneath their bodies giving them the warmth of nature.

Thereby, on the seasonal change in climate, the goats naturally shed off the wool with the help of coarse rocks and trees. To overcome the heat of summers, they eventually shed off the thick wool mostly from their bellies, neck region, and behind the ears. In addition, the herders also comb out the wool manually. The soft wool is Cashmere wool.

Ethereal Art of Pashmina

After combing out the Cashmere wool, it is cleaned from the excess dust and filled in the packets to transfer to the valley of Kashmir. The Cashmere wool is sorted and undergoes several procedures in the valley itself. The cleaning, drying, soaking makes the Cashmere wool vividly clean. Afterwards, it is translated to the finest fibres by the process of spinning. The yarn of fineness is transferred to the handlooms in the valley to weave the yarn into several styles of accessories. The whole process of spinning and weaving the finest Cashmere is called the Art of Pashmina.

The Versatile Styles in Pashmina Art

Moving along the art of Pashmina, several other processes like dyeing, printing, weaving, patterning, embroidering cater to the exclusive collection of Cashmere. The art of Pashmina cherishes every inch of the finest Cashmere to bring upon a luxury to the world. The intricate form of the process is hand embroidery. The hand-embroidery is done by highly skilled artisans. Also, diligence prevails in the whole process of embroidering the Cashmere in Pashmina Art. Moreover, the Art of Pashmina has its heritage in the air and at every corner of the valley. Kashmir has been the sole region where the craft of embroidered Pashmina excelled from the 16th century. Therefore, the uniqueness of designs, motifs is requisite.

In addition, heritage is seen in the designs. There are traditional motifs like paisleys/amb, Also, the elegant designs over the finest Cashmere go in diverse ways. The designs are; Buta/Buti, Jaali, Jamawar, Neem Dar, Hashi, Palla. Moreover, the newness with the traditions curates the most outstanding masterpieces of Embroidered Pashmina.

The Exquisite Hand Embroideries in Pashmina Art

There are several hand embroideries in the Kashmir valley for the beautification of the finest Cashmere. Also, each type of Embroidery has its own way of skill diligence required. Artisans of the valley are versatile as well as confident about their Art.

1. Sozni Hand Embroidery

The old-age Sozni hand embroidery is the finest form of needlework. Mostly done by both men and women artisans. The premium Cashmere is worked upon by the Sozni needlework to engage the mesmerizing designs onto the fine fabric. The artisans play in the harmony with the needle and thread to emboss the rich design. There is a wide array of threads with every colour possible. The artisans take the explicit Cashmere in their hands and play the musical symphony of Sozni embroidery.

Moreover, the patterns are crafted by many stitches viz; darning, double darning, herringbone, knots. Giving it a profound intricate look to gather the designs in one unity. Sozni Hand embroidered Pashmina caters to the world of fashion in an intricate way of uniqueness. There are diverse designs/motifs of the traditional range. The most popular is the paisley. In addition, there are flowers, leaves, birds, and natural beings. Hence, the intricate and diligent work of Sozni belongs to the glory of luxury.

2. Papier Mache Hand Embroidery

The unique way of Hand Embroidery is the Papier-mache work. The extensive process requires high skill and diligence. Moreover, Papier Mache is a hand embroidery of premium quality. In a literal way, the word means the chewed paper derived from the French Word, Papier-mache. Also, the embroidery is the essence of french influence over the Kashmir Pashmina. The artisans use a series of flat stitches, the satin stitch, to fill the background fabric for the design like a flower and, leaves. It requires fine-quality silk threads that enhance the luxurious look. The design works in clear and bright colours outlined in black colour. Thus, giving a unique embossed look over the Pashmina.

Further, the intricate and vivid hand embroidery of Papier-mache prolongs the influence of culture. Therefore, the beauty is seen in every masterpiece of Hand Embroidered Pashmina.

3. Aari Hand Embroidery

The Aari hand embroidery is the long traditional embroidery in the valley of Kashmir. Thus, exclusively defines hand embroidery cast on the finest Cashmere with skill. The artisans prefer the light of culture in the designs embossed. The thread used is a staple of a wide range of colours. Moreover, the intricacy and the high skill of hands confers to the premium collection of Aari embroidered Pashmina.

It is a meticulous way of creating the aesthetic embroidery with the pointed crochet needle, specifically entwining with the pure silk thread. Hence, well-defined as well as premium in the colour scheme is prescribed by the designers. The artisan, takes over his crochet needle and makes loops, and uses the thread extensively for the beautification of fashion. Moreover, the unique designs with the gallop of traditions describe the Art of Pashmina in diverse ways.

4. Tilla Dozi Hand Embroidery

Tilla Dozi is the old era of Hand embroidery. The saint from the Middle East came to the valley of Kashmir to propagate the message of Islam. Also, he explored several art forms. He was accompanied by 700 craftsmen. On the journey towards the valley, he witnessed the finest Cashmere on the Changra goats. Thus, suggested the royals make an industry of Pashmina. The 700 craftsmen made the people of the valley learn several art forms. To this age, the artforms prevail in the Kashmir valley. Tilla Dozi is one such gift. Afterwards, the Tilla Dozi touched its peak in the Mughal period when the kings used Tilla works in their royal courts. They were used for the ornamentation to the courts.

Originally the Tilla Dozi was done using real gold or silver by malleating them to fine sheets like threads. Eventually, these were only used by the royals and upper class. But eventually, it met several alterations. Tilla Dozi's works were incorporated into clothes, shawls, wraps. Moreover, the Tilla karigars/ artisans delivered premium quality embroidery with a luxurious presence. In Pashmina art, the finest Cashmere worked upon by the Tilla Dozi unravels the luxuriously high-quality accessories. Tilla Dozi in the contemporary age festoons an intricate design of opulence. Nowadays, the essence gets lost in the machine Tilla work but the real virtue of hand-embroidered Tilla reveals the sense of glory in each masterpiece of Pashmina Art.

5. Aksi Hand Embroidery

Aksi Pashmina Shawl is the type of styles in Pashmina Art. The designing starts in the process of weaving. The designs are crafted by splitting the warp threads into two while weaving on the handloom. The other side of the Pashmina shawl is either left plain or embroidered with another design. The embroidery profuse on either side with the luxury of intricacy. The Aksi Pashmina Shawls can be worn over with any of the side. Both the faces prove the word of luxury of Pashmina Art.

Also, the name Aksi comes from the word, Aks meaning "reflection or side". Therefore, the design is very intricate and needs the quality artisan to work on. In addition, the design of one face reflects on the other face of the Pashmina Shawl in distinct colour used as the weft while weaving. The process requires the utmost diligence and precision as the embroidery done on each face reflects on the other beautifully. It is the magic of the hands of artisans who very precisely play around the warps and wefts. Thus, crafting the versatile form of Pashmina Art. 

Collection of Hand Embroidered Pashmina Shawls

The hand-embroidered Pashmina Shawls cater to the world-class skill of the artisans of Kashmir. The uniqueness and intricacy in every piece, seen with the premium delicacy of hands are premium. The unending luxury of these Pashmina Shawls is mesmerizing. Moreover, the diverse hand embroideries on the finest Cashmere of Changra Goats from Ladakh are exclusive. Therefore, premium hand embroideries cater to the world of fashion most uniquely. The prosperous designs fill the Pashmina Shawls with splendid luxury.

Collection of Hand Embroidered Cashmere Scarves

The hand Embroidered Cashmere Scarves elegantly confers to all the fashionistas. The exclusiveness and the intricacy of the modern look bring the luxurious fashion over to the top. The hand embroideries on the finest Cashmere deliver to the mesmerizing collection of pure and genuine Cashmere. The designs within the embroideries scatter the opulence in every possible direction. Thus, the unique meticulous creation of premium quality accessories defines the heritage in high quality. The fashion world confers to the genuine Cashmere Scarves for the luxury to prevail endlessly.

Collection of Hand Embroidered Cashmere Wraps

Hand Embroidered Cashmere Wraps are the contemporary style of fashion. The meticulous creation of the Cashmere Wraps cherishes the Changra goats. The Changra goats give the finest Cashmere wool for the curation of Cashmere Wraps. Further, the intricate designs, prescribed over the Cashmere is explicit. The hand embroideries with a huge range of designs emboss the intricacy with precision over the exquisite Cashmere. Also, given diverse Hand embroideries like Sozni, Aari, Tilla Dozi, Papier Mache for exclusive luxury.

Moreover, the fashion world around caters to men and women with tremendous intricacy. The artisans work upon the distinct masterpieces to revive the heritage as well as define the elegance. The new attributes are embossed to the Cashmere Wraps in the form of luxurious designs. The splendidly serene designs confer to the richness of heritage as well as skill in the Kashmir Valley.

Also read: IN MEN'S PASHMINA - EMBROIDERED PASHMINA SHAWLS

Well-defined Exquisite Collection of Pashmina Art

We, at pashmina.com, deliver a unique collection of Hand embroidered Pashmina. The revere of heritage followed up by the skill of artisans, seen in every piece of Cashmere is explicit. Pashmina Art is the curation of the finest Cashmere from the region of Ladakh into diverse styles of Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls. Therefore, we directly confer to the handlooms of Kashmir valley for our exquisite collection.

Moreover, they are ethically produced with premium finest Cashmere from the Changra goats of Ladakh. Therefore, every step of Pashmina Art is manual and done by highly skilled artisans. The unique and defined collection of Pashmina Art profuses the luxury in itself. Thus, the collection caters to men and women of all around. The several styles confer to all the generations with elegance underneath.

Also read: AN AESTHETIC COMPREHENSION OF PASHMINA ART