Pashmina

Our Pashminas have been hand woven in Nepal from 70% cashmere, 30% silk and are a high quality weave which is more difficult to find these days.

What is Pashmina?

Pashmina has become the name for the very best cashmere in the world. The name pashmina comes from the Persian word Pashm (wool). Our pashminas are made from the underbelly of the Capra-Hircus goat which is raised in the Himalayan mountain region. The Capra Hircus goat lives at elevations of 14,000 feet and above, where temperatures rarely rise above -30 degrees Centigrade in winter. The higher the goats live, the finer the hair. This extremely fine and short hair is protected by long, hard exterior hairs which serve to conserve the valuable undercoat.

The goats shed each spring and the pashmina fibres are collected either from the rocks and bushes or are brushed from the underbelly. No harm comes to the goats during this process. The fibres are then sorted, cleaned and spun into pashmina yarn. It is hand woven with silk, and individually dried and dyed, and finally fringed with twisted silk tassels.

The ultimate indulgence is 100% pashmina, thought most clients prefer a combination of pashmina and silk (70% cashmere and 30% silk) because the silk adds strength and shine to the garment. Delicate and soft to touch, it caresses the skin. Accessories made from pashmina are convenient because of their warmth and compact size when folded and it is not surprising that pashmina has been successful in establishing its uniqueness among fashion wear throughout the world.

Care of your Pashmina

In general, it is best to dry clean your pashmina. Please use a dry cleaner familiar with the care of pashminas. However, you can hand wash occasionally if you follow the few guidelines below.

Wash carefully by hand in cold or lukewarm water using mild soap or baby shampoo. Try not to bunch the pashmina up when washing it - either fold in the sink or lay it in the bath. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear and drip-dry away from direct sunlight. Do not wring or twist. It can be a good idea to lay the pashmina on a fresh, dry towel to allow to blot and then hang from the bathroom shower rail or clothes airer. I have dry cleaned and washed my pashminas and both have been successful.

A pashmina does not generally need ironing - just hang it up unbunched and the wrinkles should fall out. If it does need pressing, make sure you do so over a damp cloth with a warm iron. Do not iron directly onto the pashmina as the iron could damage the surface.

Lastly, pashmina is quite unusual in that it actually becomes softer and more comfortable with each use, making it gentler on your skin every time you wear it.