Pashmina: what is it?
Pashmina: Definition
Pashmina is a luxurious fabric of exceptional softness, woven from the finest wool of Himalayan goats, living at an altitude of over 3,000 meters.
This rare wool comes exclusively from the long, very fine hairs of these goats' beards and necks, where the fibers are the warmest, lightest, and silkiest.
This rare wool comes exclusively from the long, very fine hairs of these goats' beards and necks, where the fibers are the warmest, lightest, and silkiest.
Origin of Pashmina
The word pashmina comes from the Persian pashmînâh, meaning "warm wool."
Harvested by hand in the spring, this precious fiber is then spun and woven on traditional wooden looms, using ancestral know-how passed down from generation to generation. Each pashmina requires many hours of artisanal work. Indian and Nepalese artisans thus create light, warm, and remarkably fine fabrics.
Harvested by hand in the spring, this precious fiber is then spun and woven on traditional wooden looms, using ancestral know-how passed down from generation to generation. Each pashmina requires many hours of artisanal work. Indian and Nepalese artisans thus create light, warm, and remarkably fine fabrics.
Pashmina Material
Pashmina fibers measure only 14 to 15 microns, compared to 50 to 75 microns for a human hair. This exceptional fineness is matched only by that of shahtoosh, another rare and precious wool.
Himalayan goats feed on endemic plants growing on the arid and salty plateaus of the region. This unique environment, combined with extreme temperatures, explains the exceptional quality of their wool. Each goat produces only 100 to 300 grams of pashmina per year, making this material one of the rarest in the world.
Himalayan goats feed on endemic plants growing on the arid and salty plateaus of the region. This unique environment, combined with extreme temperatures, explains the exceptional quality of their wool. Each goat produces only 100 to 300 grams of pashmina per year, making this material one of the rarest in the world.
Pashmina Manufacturing
Pashmina weaving is an ancient artisanal tradition in India and Nepal, passed down for several centuries. Specialized artisans are mainly found in the Kashmir region, in northern India, at the foot of the Himalayan mountains.
Manufacturing Process
The process begins with a meticulous selection of pashmina wool...
Once the wool is sorted, it is carefully spun by hand...
Manual weaving is a slow and meticulous task, requiring great precision...
Once the weaving is complete, each piece is carefully washed and then inspected before finishing...
How to Recognize and Enhance a Pashmina
Pashmina embroidery is an artisanal technique that requires exceptional skill and great patience.
Choosing the Block for the Pattern
Choosing the finely carved walnut wood block is an essential step...
Stamping the Shawl
The artisan then dips a finely carved wooden block into the dye before delicately printing the pattern...
Embroidering the Shawl
Once the pattern is printed, the shawl is entrusted to the expert hands of the embroiderers...
Each piece is then carefully checked to ensure impeccable embroidery quality.
Differences Between Pashmina, Cashmere, and Wool
Pashmina
Pashmina wool is exclusively produced from the long, very fine hairs of the beards and necks of goats living at very high altitudes in the Himalayan mountains. The word pashmina comes from the Persian pashmînâh, meaning "warm wool." This exceptional fiber is woven by artisans with remarkable know-how and is considered one of the finest in the world (14 to 15 microns, compared to 50 to 75 microns for a human hair). Its very fine weave and the exceptional quality of its fibers give it incomparable softness and lightness. Only shahtoosh, another very rare wool, can compete with such fineness.
Cashmere
Cashmere wool is produced by goats living on the high plateaus of the Himalayas, particularly in the Kashmir region. The master weavers of this region, called Kashmiris, are renowned for their fine weaving, carried out on traditional wooden looms. Today, cashmere wool is produced in several countries around the world from different breeds of goats.
Wool
The word wool designates a natural textile fiber produced mainly by sheep, including those living in the Himalayas. Used for centuries, it allows for the creation of warm, resistant, and comfortable clothing.
Himalayan Goats and Wool Quality
Himalayan goats are unique due to their natural environment. They live at altitudes of 3,000 meters and above and feed exclusively on endemic plants growing on the arid and salty plateaus of the world's highest mountains. Each goat produces only 100 to 300 grams of wool per year. The higher the altitude, the finer and warmer the fiber it develops to protect itself from the cold. These exceptional conditions produce some of the finest wool in the world.
Shahtoosh Wool: A Forbidden Wool
Shahtoosh wool is an extremely fine and rare textile, obtained from the neck hairs of the chiru, a Tibetan antelope now protected. Its production is prohibited, and it is important not to encourage its illegal trade.
Discover in our Pashmina collection
100% Cashmere Pashmina
Discover our 100% cashmere pashminas from India.
→ Discover our 100% Cashmere Pashminas
Pashmina from Nepal
Discover our cashmere and silk pashminas from Nepal.
→ Discover our Pashminas from Nepal
Hand-Embroidered Pashmina
Discover our hand-embroidered pashminas from Kashmir.
→ Discover our Hand-Embroidered Pashminas
Discover our 100% cashmere pashminas from India.
→ Discover our 100% Cashmere Pashminas
Pashmina from Nepal
Discover our cashmere and silk pashminas from Nepal.
→ Discover our Pashminas from Nepal
Hand-Embroidered Pashmina
Discover our hand-embroidered pashminas from Kashmir.
→ Discover our Hand-Embroidered Pashminas