Popularly known in the west as Cashmere, a Pashmina shawl is a dream for men and women alike. It spans the fashion runways and makes its way to celebrity closets. It graces the nobles and is gifted amongst royalty. However, that’s not where it begins its journey from. Pashmina or cashmere making begins far from the madding urban rush of the city - at an altitude of 15000 feet, where the Changthangi goat resides. The home to this particular goat is a remote village in the Himalayas - Ladakh.
The goat shed its lustrous and warm mane at the advent of summer by rubbing itself against bushes, shrubs and rocks. Why? Because if it doesn’t, it will not be able to survive the warm climates of the summer.
From here, locals collect the wool and dust away all the impurities away from it. This refined wool is then combed to obtain a fine texture and sent to the valley of Kashmir. Here it undergoes the transformation from being a mere fiber to the most luxurious wrap in the world.
First, a group of women spinner mount it over a traditional Charkha like wheel known as Yinder. The fiber is spun after repeated steps of mounting and dismounting the fiber over the wheel. The Pashmina is then passed onto the weaver who mounts it over a handloom and weaves it meticulously into warps and wefts.
However, this is not it. Between the passing of Pashmina from Ladakhi locals to Kashmiri spinners and then the weavers, the fiber passes through more elaborate steps and through the hands of almost 33 artisans before it comes to life. In these steps of formation, lies the reason why a Pashmina hold the value it does.
The next question however arises is where to buy Pashmina. There are so many fakes and replicas flooding the market. Some sell it cheap and others sell it exorbitant. And all this creates such a huge dilemma about the authenticity of Pashmina. Now the safest bet is to buy it directly from the place where it is made - the Kashmir Valley. And hence we come to the place where we can access the best Pashmina shawls ever - Kashmirbox.com
The online retailer gives you a direct access to Pashmina weavers and you can get your style of Pashmina directly from the maker.
Hold on! Did we just mention style? For years, Pashminas have been perceived as completely traditional. But that is not the case. Once you start looking for its varieties, you get to observe that there is so much more that needs to be explored in this flamboyant craft.
So here we’ve compiled a list of some exclusive Pashmina Shawl designs you will only get at Kashmir Box:
1. The Plain Pashmina
Plain Pashminas are the most versatile style of them all. After a Pashmina spun has been woven, it is dyed using natural or Azo free dyes and given the desired color. After this, the shawl is sun dried, washed using specialized techniques and dried again. What is amazing about a plain Pashmina shawl is that it can be paired with any type of clothing and practically any occasion. You could be wanting to dress up in formals and attend an important meeting or just hang out with your friends - a Plain Pashmina shawl will pull it off with perfection and impeccability.
2. GI Certified PashminasThese could be embroidered, or plain or striped or checked or whatever. But they come with an assurance that your pashmina shawl is genuine. That you don’t have to worry about investing in the wrong place. That you really helped an artisan sustain his living. Only and only Kashmiri Pashminas come with the GI seal. The seal is an indicator that your Pashmina shawl is A. Hand Spun B. Hand Woven over a specialized loom C. Ladakhi Pashmina with a finesses of below 16 microns. The shawl will carry a unique code, which can be cross checked to verify authenticity. These certified shawls are not found just about anywhere. At Kashmir Box, you can view their entire catalog.
3. Jaamavar PashminaA Jamavar Pashmina is one which is totally packed with Sozni embroidery. Typically used to bridal wear, a jamawar features the most intricate floral embroideries of them all and takes around 6 months to 1 year in their making. Unique Jamawar designs have been the talk of the town for centuries altogether and these haven’t lost a tad of their glamor over the years. A particular trait of a Jamawar Pashmina shawl is that the embroidery is so dense that barely an inch of the underlying fabric is visible.
4. Jaalidar Pashmina
Jaali designs are literally translated to netted ones. Explicit and heavy hand embroidered Sozni is cast onto the pashmina shawl. The mesh so formed is sometimes filled, and sometimes left empty. The difference between a Jaalidar and Jamawar design is that while the former gives a sneak peek into the underlying fabric, the latter does not leave an inch untouched by embroidery.
5. Bootidaar PashminaBootidar design is a scattered one. Small and delicate motifs of Sozni embroidery (paisleys, chinars or florals) scatter throughout the base of the Pashmina shawl and spread a delicate charm about them. The shawl thus made is ideal to wear on formal occasions and gatherings.
6. Tilla PashminaTilla embroidery is a gold or silver metallic embroidery done on needlepoint. The embellishment has made its way into bridal trousseaus since times immemorial. Pashmina shawls with Tilla embroidery are every bride’s dream and are even used beyond to festive occasions. What is noteworthy is that unlike other embroideries, Tilla does not age. It acquires an antique look over the years and hence improves the look and feel of a Kashmiri Pashmina shawl ever after decades have passed.
7. Contemporary PashminaEverybody does not like to bear the weight of an embroidery. Everybody doesn’t like heavy clothing or accessorizing. And hence, they find themselves feeling deprived of a pashmina (which for some reason is always associated with embroideries). On the flip side, Pashmina weavers have worked on this perception and made stripes, checks and Ikkat patterns out of the heritage fabric. Hence, for the modern generation, these type of pashminas become THE MUST HAVES.
8. Towel PashminaWhen the climate is gelid, these lesser known type of pashmina becomes quintessential. A towel Pashminais thicker and warmer than any type of pashmina shawl available in the market. After a shawl is woven, smaller loops are plucked manually with the help of tweezers and these give your pashmina shawl the look of a towel and the warmth non pareil. Besides towel shawls, even blanket shawls are ideal for winters. They are 4 ply cashmeres where 4 Pashm threads are woven into one and then woven into a shawl. A blanket shawl is hence thicker in nature and does not allow the chills of winter to pass through. Towel shawls and blanket shawls are rarely known by people, but they are winter must haves when it comes to comfort. Wear them on a cold, chilly day and you are sorted for the colder months.
9. Dip Dye PashminaTie and dye has been talked about and cherished ever since 1960 and pashmina shawl even more than that. When the two come together, they create a unique combination of color splashes, vogue, warmth and comfort. A pashmina shawl is called a dip dye one when it is subject to resist dyeing techniques which cause an asymmetric color myriad to befall the shawl. Dip dye pashminas have recently been introduced into the market and their concept boomed the fashion industry. Everybody, especially the youth appreciated the newness of the idea and embraced it with open arms. The dip dye pashminas are ideal for casual occasions and even to wear on a beach. Their candid colors make them a perfect fit for any informal social gathering, shopping trips, day outs with friends and so much more.
10. Reversible PashminaThe name needs no further explanation. Reversible Pashmina shawls are those which show contrasting or complimenting hues n both its side. A plus side of choosing a reversible or dual toned pashmina is that you don’t have to worry about its folds spoiling. Another one is that you can wear it with multiple colors. Just flip the side and you are good to go. Pair a reversible Pashmina shawl with a plain ethnic or western outfit and be the epitome of style.
11.Kani PashminaLast but not the least are Kani Pashminas. They are made using small bobbin like sticks known as Kanis and are developed in even more remote area of Kashmir Valley - Kanihama. Kani Pashminas require the most intricate type of weaving and display the most elaborate type of patterns all along this weave. Besides, did you know that it was Kani Pashmina which Napolean gifted to his wife Josephine?
That should be reason enough to understand why a Kani Pashmina shawl is such an important component of a typical celebrity closet. Who wouldn’t want to look like a queen?Popularly known in the west as Cashmere, a Pashmina shawl is a dream for men and women alike. It spans the fashion runways and makes its way to celebrity closets. It graces the nobles and is gifted amongst royalty. However, that’s not where it begins its journey from. Pashmina or cashmere making begins far from the madding urban rush of the city - at an altitude of 15000 feet, where the Changthangi goat resides. The home to this particular goat is a remote village in the Himalayas - Ladakh.
The goat shed its lustrous and warm mane at the advent of summer by rubbing itself against bushes, shrubs and rocks. Why? Because if it doesn’t, it will not be able to survive the warm climates of the summer.
From here, locals collect the wool and dust away all the impurities away from it. This refined wool is then combed to obtain a fine texture and sent to the valley of Kashmir. Here it undergoes the transformation from being a mere fiber to the most luxurious wrap in the world.
First, a group of women spinner mount it over a traditional Charkha like wheel known as Yinder. The fiber is spun after repeated steps of mounting and dismounting the fiber over the wheel. The Pashmina is then passed onto the weaver who mounts it over a handloom and weaves it meticulously into warps and wefts.
However, this is not it. Between the passing of Pashmina from Ladakhi locals to Kashmiri spinners and then the weavers, the fiber passes through more elaborate steps and through the hands of almost 33 artisans before it comes to life. In these steps of formation, lies the reason why a Pashmina hold the value it does.
The next question however arises is where to buy Pashmina. There are so many fakes and replicas flooding the market. Some sell it cheap and others sell it exorbitant. And all this creates such a huge dilemma about the authenticity of Pashmina. Now the safest bet is to buy it directly from the place where it is made - the Kashmir Valley. And hence we come to the place where we can access the best Pashmina shawls ever - Kashmirbox.com
The online retailer gives you a direct access to Pashmina weavers and you can get your style of Pashmina directly from the maker.
Hold on! Did we just mention style? For years, Pashminas have been perceived as completely traditional. But that is not the case. Once you start looking for its varieties, you get to observe that there is so much more that needs to be explored in this flamboyant craft.
So here we’ve compiled a list of some exclusive Pashmina Shawl designs you will only get at Kashmir Box:
1. The Plain PashminaPlain Pashminas are the most versatile style of them all. After a Pashmina spun has been woven, it is dyed using natural or Azo free dyes and given the desired color. After this, the shawl is sun dried, washed using specialized techniques and dried again. What is amazing about a plain Pashmina shawl is that it can be paired with any type of clothing and practically any occasion. You could be wanting to dress up in formals and attend an important meeting or just hang out with your friends - a Plain Pashmina shawl will pull it off with perfection and impeccability.
2. GI Certified PashminasThese could be embroidered, or plain or striped or checked or whatever. But they come with an assurance that your pashmina shawl is genuine. That you don’t have to worry about investing in the wrong place. That you really helped an artisan sustain his living. Only and only Kashmiri Pashminas come with the GI seal. The seal is an indicator that your Pashmina shawl is A. Hand Spun B. Hand Woven over a specialized loom C. Ladakhi Pashmina with a finesses of below 16 microns. The shawl will carry a unique code, which can be cross checked to verify authenticity. These certified shawls are not found just about anywhere. At Kashmir Box, you can view their entire catalog.
3. Jaamavar PashminaA Jamavar Pashmina is one which is totally packed with Sozni embroidery. Typically used to bridal wear, a jamawar features the most intricate floral embroideries of them all and takes around 6 months to 1 year in their making. Unique Jamawar designs have been the talk of the town for centuries altogether and these haven’t lost a tad of their glamor over the years. A particular trait of a Jamawar Pashmina shawl is that the embroidery is so dense that barely an inch of the underlying fabric is visible.
4. Jaalidar PashminaJaali designs are literally translated to netted ones. Explicit and heavy hand embroidered Sozni is cast onto the pashmina shawl. The mesh so formed is sometimes filled, and sometimes left empty. The difference between a Jaalidar and Jamawar design is that while the former gives a sneak peek into the underlying fabric, the latter does not leave an inch untouched by embroidery.
5. Bootidaar PashminaBootidar design is a scattered one. Small and delicate motifs of Sozni embroidery (paisleys, chinars or florals) scatter throughout the base of the Pashmina shawl and spread a delicate charm about them. The shawl thus made is ideal to wear on formal occasions and gatherings.
6. Tilla PashminaTilla embroidery is a gold or silver metallic embroidery done on needlepoint. The embellishment has made its way into bridal trousseaus since times immemorial. Pashmina shawls with Tilla embroidery are every bride’s dream and are even used beyond to festive occasions. What is noteworthy is that unlike other embroideries, Tilla does not age. It acquires an antique look over the years and hence improves the look and feel of a Kashmiri Pashmina shawl ever after decades have passed.
7. Contemporary PashminaEverybody does not like to bear the weight of an embroidery. Everybody doesn’t like heavy clothing or accessorizing. And hence, they find themselves feeling deprived of a pashmina (which for some reason is always associated with embroideries). On the flip side, Pashmina weavers have worked on this perception and made stripes, checks and Ikkat patterns out of the heritage fabric. Hence, for the modern generation, these type of pashminas become THE MUST HAVES.
8. Towel PashminaWhen the climate is gelid, these lesser known type of pashmina becomes quintessential. A towel Pashminais thicker and warmer than any type of pashmina shawl available in the market. After a shawl is woven, smaller loops are plucked manually with the help of tweezers and these give your pashmina shawl the look of a towel and the warmth non pareil. Besides towel shawls, even blanket shawls are ideal for winters. They are 4 ply cashmeres where 4 Pashm threads are woven into one and then woven into a shawl. A blanket shawl is hence thicker in nature and does not allow the chills of winter to pass through. Towel shawls and blanket shawls are rarely known by people, but they are winter must haves when it comes to comfort. Wear them on a cold, chilly day and you are sorted for the colder months.
9. Dip Dye PashminaTie and dye has been talked about and cherished ever since 1960 and pashmina shawl even more than that. When the two come together, they create a unique combination of color splashes, vogue, warmth and comfort. A pashmina shawl is called a dip dye one when it is subject to resist dyeing techniques which cause an asymmetric color myriad to befall the shawl. Dip dye pashminas have recently been introduced into the market and their concept boomed the fashion industry. Everybody, especially the youth appreciated the newness of the idea and embraced it with open arms. The dip dye pashminas are ideal for casual occasions and even to wear on a beach. Their candid colors make them a perfect fit for any informal social gathering, shopping trips, day outs with friends and so much more.
10. Reversible PashminaThe name needs no further explanation. Reversible Pashmina shawls are those which show contrasting or complimenting hues n both its side. A plus side of choosing a reversible or dual toned pashmina is that you don’t have to worry about its folds spoiling. Another one is that you can wear it with multiple colors. Just flip the side and you are good to go. Pair a reversible Pashmina shawl with a plain ethnic or western outfit and be the epitome of style.
11. Kani PashminaLast but not the least are Kani Pashminas. They are made using small bobbin like sticks known as Kanis and are developed in even more remote area of Kashmir Valley - Kanihama. Kani Pashminas require the most intricate type of weaving and display the most elaborate type of patterns all along this weave. Besides, did you know that it was Kani Pashmina which Napolean gifted to his wife Josephine?
That should be reason enough to understand why a Kani Pashmina shawl is such an important component of a typical celebrity closet. Who wouldn’t want to look like a queen?