*A good read and very informative*

Pashmina From Kashmir
By Michael Dsouza

Kashmir Pashmina, the inner hairs from the underbelly and throat area of the capra hircus mountain goat. Kashmir wool itself is known to be the purest in the world and pashmina represents the finest fibers of this wool. When we say "Kashmir Pashmina" we are referencing products derived from Himalayan goats that live at heights above 14,000 feet only. Its at these altitudes that goats will grow their warmest inner undercoat due primarily to cold harsh temperature climates. Up to approximately 8 ounces of pure wool can be produced per goat annually. Taking about 3 goats one years time to produce enough pashmina for one pure shawl.

Pashmina gets softer with use and is very warm due to its incredible insulating properties. It is often mixed with silk and other wools. While a silk blend may provide a nice sheen, other mixes can keep costs down and at the same time provide a more reasonable platform on which to embroider. This is because embroidering is quite difficult and very, very expensive due to the fact that the individual strands are 6 times smaller than the average human hair. Kashmir pashmina can measure in as low as 12 to 14 microns, the finest of all wools. Just for reference, cashmere is thicker coming in at about 19 microns. Procured from varying species, it generally does not have the same insulating properties.

Kashmir is a place and pashmina is a product. In the west the word "Cashmere" basically sounds the same as the place kashmir and yet refers to a pashmina like product as in "cashmere sweater" for example. Through great marketing efforts they have basically morphed these two words under the heading "cashmere." Very clever. Technically, a cashmere product does not hold up to the higher standards of pashminas from kashmir as explained in the preceding paragraph. Sound confusing? It gets worse...

Not only is the word cashmere being used to describe a pashmina like item, as in the phrase "cashmere wrap", the word pashmina itself has over time been abused to include just about anything soft and fury. You have to be very careful of who you buy from. Its like buying a Rolex watch or buying a copy of a Rolex. Only in this case instead of getting a nice soft warm wool, you may end up with what is best described as a "thick and scratchy something."

Kashmir is famous for hand loomed, one of a kind, embroidered pashmina . So much time is spent on each and every piece, from gathering up the fibers to placing the last stitch. Your pashmina wraps should be treasured and taken care of properly.

Some quick pointers:

1 -- Never put your pashmina wrap in a washing machine or dryer.

2 -- Have it professionally dry cleaned.

3 -- Never take an iron directly to a pashmina.

4 -- You can soak it and very gently hand clean it in cold or room temperature water. De solve a small amount of baby shampoo in the water prior to doing this. Then rinse in clean water.

5 -- Roll your wrap or scarf very gently in a towel, blot it and lay it flat to dry. Flip it over once.

6 -- Do not leave your pashmina stole out in the sun to dry.

7 -- Do not store these wools in a damp place.

8 -- Be careful of what you wear. Sharp objects, pocketbooks and belts can damage your delicate wool.

9 -- Keep some mothballs handy. You don't want to be getting ready to go out for dinner and find out your house guests have already had theirs.

10 -- Finally, be careful of anything that might stain your wool, such as lipstick.

So that about wraps it up for this article. I hope you enjoyed the read. Feel free to use this article as you see fit.


Michael Dsouza is a resource writer for a new york based online company specializing in the sale of fine hand embroidered pashmina shawls and silk fashion accessories imported from kashmir. He currently lives in new york, frequently traveling to both goa and kashmir where he met his wife and plans to eventually settle down.

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