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Pashmina is a soft and warm textile mainly used in scarves and shawls. It is made from the wool of Himalayan goats and is often blended with silk for durability. Prices have dropped, but it is still important to buy from reputable sources due to imitations.
Pashmina is a textile that became popular in the West in the late 1990s. It is very soft and warm, and is mainly used in scarves and shawls. The word is derived from the Persian word pashm, which refers to the fur of many animals, in this case, the goat.
This textile is usually made with wool from the belly of the Himalayan goat. There are pure pashmina scarves and shawls available, although many people find them too thick or scratchy. Some manufacturers use a softening process that works with 100% pashmina wool. This process gives it a smooth, almost silky quality. Due to the softness of the processed garments, pure pashmina will often be referred to as cashmere. It is slightly different though, and comes from Tibet, not Kashmir.
Most of the pashmina available on the market is actually a blend of pure wool and silk. This adds strength and durability to the textile, which is otherwise too light to withstand much wear and tear. Blends range from 80/20 pashmina to silk up to 50/50. As a general rule, the higher the wool content, the more expensive the textile.
Pashmina has dropped significantly in price since it first made its appearance in the West. While shawls in the mid-1990s could easily cost upwards of $400 USD, a good shawl can now be found for much less. However, prices are unlikely to drop much further in the near future, due to the limited range of the Himalayan goat and the finite amount of wool that can be exported.
Scarves and shawls made from this textile are available in a wide range of colors and thicknesses. Most are sold in standard layers, also known as two layers, which are heavy enough to offer a good night’s rest against the cold. Lighter single layer pashmina is also available and is ideal for warmer climates. Usually, a single layer also has a higher silk content, to ensure its durability.
The price range for this material often depends on both the number of intermediaries involved and the quality of the textile itself. Therefore, it is advisable to buy pashmina through a reputable store or from a catalog or website with a good return policy. With its increasing popularity and the lack of any sort of certification system, there are many dealers selling poor quality pashmina or imitation fabrics.
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