Pashmina History

Where did Pashmina shawls originate? The name itself is a breed of mountain goats found in the Himalayas. The goats are found high up in the regions of Nepal, Tibet, India and other parts of Central Asia. These animals have a short inner coat which is called Pashmina, and this wool is what’s used to make Pashmina shawls and scarves.

Over the years, manufacturers varied the fibres included in Pashmina shawls, especially if they want it to become softer. Silk and cashmere fibres are combined with wool to vary the texture of the fabric. Depending on your personal preference, you can buy a Pashmina shawl which has 50%, 60% or 70% cashmere, with the remaining material made of silk. There are also shawls made using 100% cashmere. So in short, the history of pashmina goes back centuries to the days of Napoleon over 200 years ago when he presented a pashmina shawl to his wife. She was so pleased with the shawl that she asked Napoleon to get more so she could share them with her fashionable society friends. After, two hundred years of it's popular history, pashmina remains an essential part of a fashionable wardrobe and popular wedding and bridesmaid gifts, attesting to the durability and widespread appeal of this classic accessory.

Utmost Quality, Timeless Elegance

A classic picture of the elegant, modern woman is one who wears a business suit with a scarf around her neck. For years now, scarves have become the ultimate go-to accessory for women who would like to add a touch of class and elegance to their outfits. But not all scarves are created equal. There are 100% silk scarves from designer labels which are preferred by fashionistas, while there are the more traditional Pashmina shawls which are worn as scarves for those who like a bit of history with the garment they’re wearing. Here, we will take a look at what makes Pashmina shawls such an elegant, timeless accessory, and what you need to do to prolong the life of one.

Pashmina Shawls, the Basics

Next, why are Pashmina shawls a must-have for all the fashion-conscious women out there? First of all, this garment which doubles up as an accessory is ultra-versatile. During the summertime, you can wear it around your head as a scarf or headband. If you’re heading to the beach, you can wear the Pashmina shawl as a cover up which you can tie around your chest or around your waist. During the colder months of the year, you can wear the shawl around your neck in a multitude of ways. The tighter its knot around your throat, the warmer you will feel.

Second, Pashmina shawls are known the world over for their utmost quality. Aside from shawls, you can buy Pashmina scarves, stoles, mufflers, sweaters, blankets and other products. Depending on where you will buy such products from, you are bound to find ones which are personally hand-woven by the traditional weavers of the Kathmandu Valley. These ethnic groups and families have been weaving Pashmina fabrics for centuries now, and this is the tradition incorporated each time you wear a Pashmina shawl.

Additional Tips when Buying Pashmina Shawls

If you are in the process of upping your collection of Pashmina shawls, here are a few tips that you can keep in mind:

Choose a colour that’s close to your skin tone.

There are plenty of Pashmina patterns, designs and colours that you can choose from. If you are wearing one close to the skin, it is best to choose a flattering hue for your skin tone. But if you would like to use the Pashmina to brighten an otherwise dull outfit, you can go ahead and choose a bright coloured-design.

If you would like to have an authentic Pashmina-wearing experience, make sure that you’re not buying an imitation product.

There are plenty of knock off products out there, especially with a product as common as a scarf. To make sure that you are buying an authentic Pashmina product, look for the Hallmark label. This was introduced by the Nepalese Government a few years ago to ensure the quality of Pashmina products in the market.

Know how to care for your Pashmina shawls.

Finally, to prolong the life of your Pashmina shawls, use a mild detergent and hand wash them as much as possible. The delicate fabric will get ruined if you run them on a washing machine or tumble dryer cycle, so hand washing or dry cleaning is your best option.

Here are few links which can help understand more about pashmina and how to take care of them.

Want To Know Pashmina History In Wikipedia?

Pashmina And It's History

If you'd like to know more about pashmina, it's mixtures, thickness of pashmina etc then just click on our FAQ link or you can search on our website or contact us if you have further queries.

If you wish to check our hand made pashmina scarves and shawls, you can click on these links below: