Fashion Blogs

Fine Cashmere wool that comes from Kashmir in India, the word ‘Pashmina’ is derived from ‘Pashmineh’ which means ‘made from Pashm’ in Persian, where Pashm means wool. The fabric was brought to India via Ladakh by the Iranians and is known better as one of its products, the Pashmina shawl. The wool for Pashmina comes from the Changthangi goat which is only found in the mountainous regions of India and Nepal.
The traditional Pashmina weavers hail from the Changpa tribe in the Changthang region in Ladakh. The quality of the fiber collected from these goats is said to be one of the best in the world and has nearly no comparison. They rear the Changthang goats that, because of their adaptation to the harsh climate, develop a warm and fine coat. The inner hair of the coat, which is what is used in the making of the Pashmina fabric, is six times thinner than human hair but still has great tensile strength. The fineness of the hair makes it difficult for the weaving process to be mechanized. Therefore, genuine Pashmina products are only hand-woven.

The likeness of the fibers of Cashmere and Pashmina tend to confuse many. However, the main difference lies in the diameter of the fiber. As Pashmina fibers are finer and thinner, the quality of the fabric is also much better than Cashmere.
Pashmina has found many uses in the Indian ethnic fashion industry, especially in the manufacture of the finest ethnic shawls, wraps and scarves. The maintenance of these items are of the utmost importance as wool is naturally prone to damage by insects, among others. Pashmina products should preferably be dry cleaned. However, to ensure that the color of the Pashmina remains intact, the first wash should be by hand in cold water with a woolen fabric detergent.