Timeless pashmina
Ever imagined a fabric so fine that wrapping it around you feels warm and soft, weightless and comforting, all at the same time? Appropriately named the "soft gold of high Asia" and "diamond fabric", pashmina shawls have a similar effect when they touch the skin and instantly make one feel luxurious and classy.
Their famous durability is evident as the royal families handed them down for generations. However, today, one does not need to be regal to own a pashmina shawl, or even visit the high altitudes of Indian Kashmir, Pakistan and Nepal. They are available at most renowned retailers of fashion clothing across the globe.
Weaving pashmina
The wool comes from the Changthangi goats of the Himalayas, who shed their warm coats each spring, after the passing of the harsh winter in the high mountains. Six times finer than any animal hair, it is so fine the wool has to be hand-spun by a skilled crafter, not by machines, which makes it rare and costly. It is almost as if this fine wool is the gift of the Himalayan goats to humans. And what a gift it is!
Why people confuse it
Pashmina and cashmere shawls are very often confused by people; the difference among these two fibres is very little- a few millimetres to be exact. The cashmere fibres are wider in diameter, which make the shawls heavier than the pashmina shawls, which are lighter and ideal for people who travel or wear scarves. Being conned by fake pashmina fabrics is another dilemma for tourists visiting the Himalayan countries for the first time.
How to distinguish the real deal
To be honest, distinguishing genuine pashmina fabric can be tough if one has not felt it beforehand. It is safe to buy shawls from well-known shops. There is also a test provided by some shop owners to distinguish between real and fake pashmina by burning a small portion of the fabric.
When burnt, an original pashmina gives off the odour of burnt hair, whereas the fake ones smell like burnt plastic. If genuine, an entire pashmina shawl can be pulled through something as tiny as a ring, without getting any wrinkles on it. Now, how amazing is that!
Maintenance
With proper care, the diamond fabric can last an entire lifetime or more and care is the only thing it demands from its owner. Pashmina shawls can be gently hand-washed occasionally with a woollen fabric detergent but dry-cleaning is preferable.
Twisting it dry or compressing it must be avoided at all times; simply lay it on a flat surface after washing it and let it dry. As Pashmina fabrics never wrinkle, ironing is not necessary. But if a crisp look is desired, it can be smoothened by a warm, not too overheated, iron when it is absolutely dry.
Before packing it away in your closet, make sure the shawl is clean and dry. Packing it in an airtight pack is preferable but not a must. Protection from insects is necessary.
The history of pashmina dates back to the 13th century, but it first came into fashion among the Europeans in the eighteenth century when Napoleon gifted his wife a pashmina shawl. She was so pleased with its fine texture she told her husband to buy some more so she could share it with her friends.
Two centuries later, Princess Dianna brought pashmina shawls into the limelight by wearing them. The soft gold of high Asia thus remains an essential part of a fashionable wardrobe and popular coming-of-age gifts for girls, attesting to their durability and classic beauty.
By Dania Manal
Photo: Collected
Comments