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

Owning a Pashmina is like a dream come true for the patrons of art. After all, Pashmina making is an art form that transforms lumps of raw wool into luxury shawls or scarves. And this has been the case for centuries now. Fine Cashmere acquired manually is processed and embellished manually, and the resulting product is the epitome of class and sophistication. 

In the 18th century, when Pashmina scarves became known all over the world, the Europeans were especially allured by its magical spell. They became all the rage and royals and noblemen from kings' courts. Traders began to sell these shawls to Europeans in bulk, and gradually there were country-wide exports of the same. Fairtrade existed between European nations and Kashmir, which boosted the economy of this quaint valley abundantly. Artisans would be invited to European nations to train locals in this art. 

Birth of Fake Pashmina Shawls

Unfortunately, fair trade did not last long and unfair means began to develop soon. Greedy frauds became Pashmina shawl dealers and sold fake pieces in the markets openly. Either this Pashmina shawl would be mixed with sheep wool during processing, or it would be a sheep wool shawl treated with a softening chemical, or the shawl would be machine woven. Innocent customers purchased these fake pieces considering them to be pure pieces. But as soon as they began to wear it, they felt a difference. After one wash, these shawls showed true faces. Some got withered while others lost their warmth. A shawl which would remain intact for 30 years even, didn't even last 5 years. Soon Pashmina lost its glory, and women stopped buying it altogether. 

Also read: WHERE DOES CASHMERE COME FROM?

How can you tell a fake pashmina?

Fortunately, some sellers, who had been honest enough in their trade protested, which was mostly in vain. However, they gave customers some important tips to identify if their hard-earned Pashmina scarf is real or fake. Here are some of those valuable tips which you can use to test your Pashmina scarf:

The Burn Test

The Burn test is the most commonly used test when it comes to testing the originality of a Pashmina shawl. To test your Pashmina with the burn test, simply burn a fringe of your shawl. If it gives out the odour of burnt hair, there are high chance that this is a real scarf. After all, Cashmere is natural fibre, and would smell the same when burnt. 

The Appearance Test

Post burning, the fringe of a scarf which is made from Cashmere, should have a matte look and should become powder upon crushing. Original Pashmina will not be shiny and will collapse into a powdery form. 

The Weave Test

Did you just notice that your Pashmina shawl or scarf has an uneven weave when you saw it in clear sunlight? Relax, an uneven weave means your scarf is pure, and real Pashmina. It is the machine that would make a regular weave. A hand-made scarf will definitely have an irregular weave as it is made with the skill and patience of a human and not the tidiness of a machine.

The Rubbing Test 

Rub the corner of your scarf against itself. Did it produce a tiny spark? If yes, there is a high chance of it being fake. It is nylon and synthetic products that produce static electricity. Natural fibre-made scarves would not do so. And definitely, a Pashmina scarf or shawl would never produce a spark. 

The Shine Test

A pure, original Pashmina scarf won’t give a shimmery or glittery appearance. Unless of course there is an added silk or nylon fibre to it. Pure Pashmina shawl has a matte look and in fact, all natural fibre made scarves have it. If your scarf is shining and reflecting light, know that you have been cheated.

The Piling Test

Is your scarf Pilling? Well surprisingly, it is a good sign. It is an animal fibre after all and would definitely grow some tiny balls over its surface. But removing those is easy with a number of specialised techniques and tools.

Now we know how to differentiate a fake shawl from an original, pure Pashmina. Fake shawls entered local markets in the early 2000s and never left. Even today, when there are so many techniques to test them, customers do get cheated and receive fake pieces. Hence it is always recommended to purchase Pashmina from authentic sellers, online or offline. 

Always ask your seller for a certificate of authenticity when buying Pashmina. If he is unable to produce the same, consider him unauthentic. Or else, check with the existing customers of the seller if his shawls are pure and original. 

Always be careful while shopping for Pashmina shawls. This is an investment of a lifetime and should never be considered casual shopping. Only a pure, original Pashmina shawl will give the wearer immense warmth and be with them for a lifetime. 

Also read: WHAT SIZE SHOULD A PASHMINA BE?

Have you seen those colourful beauties reflecting luxury in the space of fashion? Those are Pashmina accessories. With the luxury of Pashmina craft, the finest Cashmere wool is crafted in Kashmir. There are three main styles viz; Cashmere Wraps, Cashmere Scarves and Pashmina Shawls. When the finest Cashmere is procured and crafted, it is of a natural colour which is called khud-rang. The premium Cashmere is crafted step by step in Kashmir. The dyeing process of finest Cashmere is one the basic steps in Pashmina Art. It is diligently done by the Rangurs (dyers) who are experienced in giving the premium Pashmina a boost of liveliness through azo-free dyes.

How did Pashmina come into existence?

The story of 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. Fortunately, 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. 

What is Cashmere?

The Changhthanghi plateau is a high-altitude region. The minimum temperature goes more than to minus 20°C in winters. The rarest breed of goats called the Changra goats dwells in the feet of the mountain Changhthanghi. In the harsh winters, the Changra goats meticulously develop a thick layer of wool on their bodies. Thus, to overcome the cold. With the changing of seasons, the Changra goats shed off the thick wool by rubbing against rocks and trees to comfort the heat of summer. Also, its manually done by the Changpa tribe who are the herders of the Changra goats. They manually comb the thick wool out. The wool is called Cashmere wool.

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.

The Art of Pashmina

The finest Cashmere wool is transferred to the Valley of Kashmir in small packets. The tufts of Cashmere wool are hand cleaned, hand sorted. Thereafter, the Cashmere 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. Afterwards, 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.

After the making of a fine Cashmere base, the crafting begins with the first step of dyeing. Thus, the dyeing of Cashmere is done by the skilled dyer called Rangur in the local language. There is an array of colors with each shade and tone. The pigmentation is done according to the requirement. In the whole dyeing process, all the steps are done manually by the skilled people of the valley.

Cashmere fabric is dyed in Kashmir Valley

The process of dying the Pashmina accessories is carried out in a pot type vessel. It is heated with gas stove. Moreover, the dying of Pashmina shawls is done individually by hand to preserve the fineness and high quality. After dying the Cashmere base, it is air dried under natural sunlight outside. Cashmere yarns and fabrics are also dyed using azo-free dyes. The Rangurs (dyers) use several colours.

The process is done by hand, and each piece individually. Rangurs(dyers) with utmost patience and experience dye the Pashmina shawls, Cashmere Wraps and Cashmere Scarves. Also, Azo-free dyes are used. It makes the Pashmina accessories eco-friendly. The pure water used for dying is usually from a lake or river and the water is mostly flowing by applying pressure. Also, the process of dyeing is done at a temperature that is below boiling point for nearly an hour or more. Cashmere wool is extra-ordinarily absorbent. Thus, dyes are easily soaked and preserved.

On the shores of Jhelum, 
the flowing water reflects the sunshine of Pashmina 
the orchestra of Rangurs (dyers) 
make music of fine Cashmere 

Also read: IS CASHMERE THE SAME AS PASHMINA?

Collection of Pashmina Art

We, at pashmina.com, confer to artisans in Kashmir Valley to craft the premium luxurious of Pashmina Art. Thus, the journey from Changhthangi to Ladakh is reflected in each and every masterpiece of Pashmina. We, belong and befit the originality of finest Cashmere. We relish the beauty of Pashmina Art accessories. Thus, having one of the masterpieces define the soul of luxury around your presence.

Also read: IS CASHMERE SCARF GOOD FOR WINTER?

Pashmina is the crafting of the finest Cashmere. The Cashmere is procured from the Changhthanghi region of Ladakh. Mainly, 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.

Moreover, 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. The dimensions in each style differ to cater to all the seasons as well as all attires.

Cashmere is procured from Ladakh

The Changhthanghi mountains of the Ladakh region are at high altitudes. Therefore, the winter in the region goes more than -20°C. The habitat is harsh in winters. A rare breed of goats dwells at the feet of the Changhthanghi Mountain. The breed is called the Changra or Changhthanghi breed. The goats are known as Changra Goats or Kashmir goats. These goats are raised by the local tribe called the Changpa tribe. The herders herd the goats mainly for the collection of thick wool. The thick wool they develop on their bodies in cold winters to combat the chill of the season. Eventually, in summers they shed the wool off against rocks, and trees to feel the air of summer. Also, the wool is combed out by the herders by hand. This wool is called Cashmere wool. It is the finest Cashmere in all the world around.

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 Rich Craft of Pashmina

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. The tufts of Cashmere wool leave the Ladakh region to reach the valley of Kashmir. The tufts are packed in small packets. Accordingly, the Cashmere wool is cleaned, soaked, and dried in the sunlight to get the dirt, and grime of any sort apart.

Afterwards, 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. The yarn is collected around the spindles for further process. It is done by simple homemade instruments. An instrument called thanchorr is used in the process of whirling around the spun fibres. The Cashmere fibres are twirled around the thanchorr, a type of stick with a round upper portion. It is made of wood. This process is called pranch. 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.

The weaving of the finest Cashmere

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. The Cashmere produced is given the required dimensions. Thus, diverse styles like Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls are made. It is to be noted that the high skill and diligence of the artisans lead to such tremendously fine masterpieces.

Also read: THE ASTOUNDING ACCESSORIES IN PASHMINA ART

The dimensions of the styles of Pashmina Art

The premium and adequate sizes of Pashmina shawls are; 80in x 40in/2m x 1m, 90in x 45in/2.2m x 1.1m & 110in x 55in/2.8m x 1.4m. The eloquence of Pashmina Shawls comes into play when the seasons are cherished with the Pashmina shawls of grand craft. Also, the intricacy and the premium look of the Pashmina shawl confer upon a wearer with glory. Moreover, hand Crafted Pashmina Shawls can be worn over the shoulders, up around the upper body and sideways along the length.

The two dimensions of Cashmere Scarves in the master collection are; 80in x 14in/2m x 35cm & 80in x 28in/2m x 70cm. In addition, the three unique designs are Ombre Scarves, Solid Scarves and Swarovski Crystals Scarves. Cashmere Scarves are the exquisite accessories that define serenity. The Cashmere scarves were given the requisite shades of colours, intricate weave, and embroidery by the skilled artisans are explicit. Therefore, their exquisite nature of them is well defined in the world of craft through Pashmina Art.

The size of a premium and adequate Cashmere Wrap is 80in x 28in/2m x 70cm. Also, there are diverse designs in the Cashmere Wraps. The intricacy in each design is obliged to gather luxury. Cashmere Wraps create an aura of exclusiveness and integrity. They are profuse in the luxury of premium creation as well as high-quality Ladakhi Cashmere. In addition, the nature of the high-quality Cashmere is prefered by all classes of fashion. Cashmere Wraps prevail in every generation due to their elegance and glory. From the contemporary style to the traditional royalty, Cashmere Wraps have proved worth all times and generations.

Also read: WHY IS PASHMINA SHAWL ON HIGH DEMAND?

Cashmere is the finest wool from around the world. After procuring the finest Cashmere wool, the crafting begins in Kashmir Valley. There are mainly three styles of accessories viz; Cashmere Wraps, Cashmere Scarves, and Pashmina Shawls. Cashmere is known for its warmth and fine appearance. It provides adequate warmth in winters. Wearing Cashmere Scarf in winter provides exquisite fashion as well as the warmth of fine wool.

The Commencing of finest Cashmere Scarf

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.

Holding the name of Pashmina Art

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.

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. Therefore, artisans work days and nights to procure the high-quality Cashmere fabric by means of their hands and feet working on a handloom.

The origin of Pashmina Art

The Saga of 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. Thus, 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: DOES THE CASHMERE SCARF SHRINK AFTER WASHING?

Reasons why Cashmere Scarf is good for winters

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

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. Also, the artisans work upon each masterpiece with precision. Thus, providing serene exclusiveness. With the appearance of luxury, there is warmth in the dimensions to provide adequate comfort in winters.

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 Scarves. In the contemporary world of fashion, premium Cashmere scarves prove to be the confidante of authenticity.

Also read: THE ASTOUNDING ACCESSORIES IN PASHMINA ART

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. The valley bestows upon the finest Cashmere the premium Art of Pashmina. The exclusiveness of the artisans confers to the creation of high-quality accessories. Ethically produced, the finest Cashmere brings the inspiration of creativity to Pashmina Art. The several styles and designs cater to the world of fashion. The uniqueness in the presence of luxurious fashion cherishes every wearer with its colors of creativity and high skill. In addition, the diligence and precision of the artisans play a great role. Also, the heritage belongs to all the masterpieces of Pashmina Art.

Serene Provenance of Cashmere Wool

The Changhthanghi mountains of the Ladakh region are at high altitudes. Therefore, the winter in the region goes more than -20°C. The habitat is harsh in winters. A rare breed of goats dwells at the feet of the Changhthanghi Mountain. The breed is called the Changra or Changhthanghi breed. The goats are known as Changra Goats or Kashmir goats. These goats are raised by the local tribe called the Changpa tribe. The herders herd the goats mainly for the collection of thick wool. The thick wool they develop on their bodies in cold winters to combat the chill of the season. Eventually, in summers they shed the wool off against rocks, and trees to feel the air of summer. Also, the wool is combed out by the herders by hand. This wool is called Cashmere wool. It is the finest Cashmere in all the world around.

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.

History accounts for the finest Cashmere

The Saga of 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.

The Creation - The Pashmina Art

Pashmina Art is the curation of the finest Cashmere from the region of Ladakh into diverse styles of Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawl. The tufts of Cashmere wool leave the Ladakh region to reach the valley of Kashmir. The tufts are packed 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. The yarn is collected around the spindles for further process. It is done by simple instruments that are homemade. An instrument called thanchorr is used in the process of whirling around the spun fibers. The Cashmere fibers are twirled around the thanchorr, a type of stick with a round upper portion. It is made of wood. This process is called pranch. The Cashmere yarn thus produced confers to the purest and finest yarn of 12 to 16 microns.

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. The Cashmere produced is given the required dimensions. Thus, diverse styles like Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawl are made.

The Designing - The Pashmina Art

After the making of Cashmere fabric, the process moves further toward creativity. The Cashmere Wrap, Scarf, or Pashmina Shawls are taken to the dyers. There is a whole section of the community that dyes the Cashmere. They are called Rangurs. The Dyers have a wide array of colours with every shade and tone possible. They meticulously as per the requirement select the colours and dye the fine Cashmere fabric. The dyeing process is also done manually with azo-dyes. Thus, a collection of colourful Cashmere is created. Eventually, the dyed Cashmere is dried out in the open area to let the sunshine sprinkle the admiration for Pashmina Art.

The Endless designs in Pashmina Shawl

Afterward, the faith of design is chosen for each Cashmere fabric. Whether it will be Solid or will turn into the different styles among many. For Solid Pashmina shawl, the dyed Cashmere is as it is ironed and packed. For other styles like Printed Pashmina, the digital prints are scribed over the Cashmere base to present the beauty in every dimension. As far as Reversible and Patterned Pashmina, the Cashmere base is woven meticulously to get the desired designs as well as patterns.

And for the Embroidered Pashmina, the hand blocks print the designs and the threads are chosen. The embroideries are done on the cast of prints embossed by hand blocks. The diverse range of threads of every color is intricately used with the needle to get the desired designs. For the Laced and Swarovski Crystals Pashmina, the artisans work upon the precious and elegant handicrafts and embellish the finest Cashmere.

Also, the Kani Pashmina is extensively woven in designs on the handloom to create an aura of luxurious designs on the fine Cashmere. For the Ombre Pashmina, the variation in the dyeing process creates a harmony of shades on the finest Cashmere base.

Also read: WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF CASHMERE?

Handcrafted Pashmina Shawl

The Art of Pashmina whirls the finest Cashmere with exquisite designs. The exclusively traditional as well as contemporary designs enthrall the fashion world. The uniqueness of the finest Cashmere amazes the highly skilled artisans to confer to the luxurious fashion. The diverse styles in the designs of Pashmina Shawls create an aura of integrity and glory. The Pashmina Shawls are exquisite accessories in the world of fashion around.

The beauty of Pashmina Shawl

Moreover, a shawl is a simple accessory in clothing loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually rectangular or square which is often folded to make a contemporary styled accessory. The word from the Persian language, shal means the Shawl. The first shawls/shals were used in Assyrian times of the era. Further, the European and Middle East countries perfected the use of Pashmina shawls. The origin of Pashmina Shawls brings us back to the Kashmir valley. The royals used exquisite Shawls to ornament the royal courts. Also, they adorned themselves with exquisite quality Pashmina Shawls.

In the contemporary age, the Pashmina Shawls confers unique, mesmerizing designs. The adornment of luxury unto the presence of the wearer is a requisite. The presence quality of highly skilled artisans and the glimpses of heritage are explicitly worn. The premium quality Pashmina Shawls belong to the class of luxurious fashion. Also, ethically created in the horizons of the valley. Hence, having one of the masterpieces of Pashmina Shawls adorns the presence with luxury.

Also read: AN AESTHETIC COMPREHENSION OF PASHMINA ART

Reverence to the Pashmina Art

We, at pashmina.com, gallop the tones of ethics to create premium quality Pashmina. The uniqueness and divinity in the precision of each masterpiece unravel the heart of glory. The diverse styles like Cashmere Scarves, Cashmere Wraps, and Pashmina Shawls eloquently define luxury. The uniqueness prevails in the Art of Pashmina as it fills the aura with creativity. Moreover, the curation of the finest Cashmere to the versatile styles is the Art of Pashmina. The heritage and skill of artisans profoundly determine the worth of Pashmina.

With regard to the Sustainability of nature, we prefer the ethical ways of curating the finest Cashmere from the Changra goats. The whole process of combing, spinning, weaving, and designing the finest Cashmere cherish the skilled hands of the artisans. In addition, the exclusive and premium Cashmere caters to all genders in a very specific way. We belong to the platform where there is significance given to the artisans and their livelihood. Also, the styles with eloquent designs prefer the lap of Kashmir valley as nature whirls in its aura. Therefore, having one of our masterpieces directly packed from the looms of Kashmir will incorporate the style of elegance.

Also read: THE ESPECIAL STEPS OF MAKING A PASHMINA SHAWL