That is Pashmina! What is Pashmina? Pashmina is the finest quality of Cashmere wool. The clothes made from this was first woven in Kashmir, the North most state of India. Pashmina is a word from Persian and actually means "made of wool". In the native Kashmiri language pashmina means "soft gold". I guess that one phrase says it all. Pashmina fabric literally feels like soft gold. The metaphor indicates that the fabric is the finest among fabrics and smooth to a very great extent. The wool for pashmina is basically extracted from three different breeds of Cashmere goat.
Since when? The usage of pashmina fabric has been mentioned in Afghan texts between 3rd century BC and 11th century AD. But the pashmina industries were believed to be started under a 15th century Kashmiri ruler. Pashmina came from the finest Cashmere goats. Cashmere fabric has been used for clothing since thousands of years in Kashmir and Nepal. The only difference between the Cashmere Fiber and the pashmina is the diameter. The pashmina fibers were considerably thinner than the Cashmere Fiber making it finer. Usage If one had to test the quality of the pashmina they would have to test it for the softness and warmth. Softness and warmth are quite opposite parameters but that is what makes pashmina unique.
Pashmina requires to be hand processed and woven as the diameter is too less. It is generally hand processed and woven into shawls, scarves, wraps and stoles. Pashmina is usually obtained when the goat sheds it's inner wool during spring. Thought the goat re-grows it in the winter again, the cycle continues. The traditional weavers are said to be a tribe known as Changpa from a region called Changpang which is situated around 13500 feet above sea level and the temperature here can drop till - 35°c.
Products Since the diameter is less and the fabric is thin, only products like shawls and stoles can be woven. The shawls woven from pashmina fabric are always in great demand in the textile market. Another factor that makes pashmina different from others is the rarity of its availability. It's not like you can find pashmina shawls everywhere. Stoles are another product of pashmina that is always in high demand. Though you wouldn't get pashmina stoles near your place you could always look up for pashmina or semi pashmina stoles for women online and buy one to fulfill your desire of owning one of the luxurious clothing of all time.
