Your Guide To Buying The Perfect Pashmina Shawl This Winter

In this comprehensive guide, we'll navigate the intricate realm of how to buy the best Pashmina shawls, helping you make an informed choice that aligns perfectly with your taste and requirements.

Spotlight Desk

Updated on: 30 December 2023 5:30 pm

Classic Plains Shawl

As the winter chill sets in, there's no better time to envelop yourself in the luxurious comfort of a Pashmina shawl. Beyond being a stylish fashion accessory, a Pashmina shawl is a timeless symbol of refinement and craftsmanship, offering both style and solace during the colder months.

What Is a Pashmina Shawl?

A pashmina shawl is a wrap made from the fine inner coat of the changpa goat found in the remote mountainous Ladakh region of India. The harsh climate of the region induces the goats to grow two coats of hair. Pashmina is obtained only from the fine inner hair of the Changpa goat.

Once the hair is collected, it is transported to the adjacent Kashmir valley, where skilled artisans hand weave the wool into beautiful shawls, stoles, and scarves.

Pashmina is often confused with cashmere. While cashmere is also the fine inner hair of himalayan goats, Pashmina is a finer form of cashmere. Typical Pashmina hair is about 12-16 microns in diameter, whereas cashmere wool can be anywhere between 15-20 microns in diameter.

Now that we know what a pashmina shawl is, and how it is made, we look at the various patterns that pashmina shawls come in.

1. Classic Plains

Plain pashmina shawls in simple, solid colours are perhaps the best-selling type of pashmina shawls the world over. These are pure handmade pashmina shawls with no embellishment. Their beauty is that they go well with pretty much any kind of attire.

A plain pashmina shawl in chartreuse green. Buy it here

2. Ombres

Ombre shawls are characterised by subtle hues and tints of colour that blend softly into each other. With pashmina shawls, this usually involves two or even three shades that melt into each other, creating a soft, flowing palette of colours on the shawls.

Buy this ombre pashmina shawl here

3. Zari

Zari is a type of embroidery originating from the Indian subcontinent that involves using gold or silver plated threads to weave intricate patterns on fabric. Until the 19th century, it involved using threads made of real gold and silver. Nonetheless, zari embroidery continues to be prized for its intricacy and the painstaking skill that goes into making a good zari shawl.

Buy this black pashmina shawl with zari work here

4. Ari Work

Ari work, known as tambour embroidery in the west, involves using a curved or crooked needle instead of a regular straight, pointed one to create even more refined patterns on fabric. Ari work originated in India, and was taken to the west sometime in the 16th century by European traders.

Buy this embroidered pashmina shawl in ari work here

5. Jamawar

"Jamawar" is derived from Persian words; "Jama" means robe or garment, and "war" stands for yard or piece. The shawls are characterised by their intricate and highly detailed designs, often featuring paisley patterns, floral motifs, and other elaborate geometric shapes.

Historically, Jamawar shawls were considered a symbol of wealth and prestige and were often worn by royalty and nobility. Today, these shawls continue to be highly prized for their craftsmanship and are sought after as elegant and luxurious accessories. They are not only a fashion statement but also a testament to the enduring tradition of fine craftsmanship in Kashmiri textiles.

Buy this men’s Jamawar shawl here

In addition to the above, Kani and Jaal are two other highly-regarded types of Pashmina shawls.

Kani shawls are shawls that are made in the Kanihama region of Kashmir. As such, these shawls are protected under the geographical indication (GI) system. The name "Kani" also refers to the wooden bobbins, known as "kanis," that are used in the process. This technique results in beautiful, finely woven shawls with elaborate patterns and designs, especially floral motifs and paisleys.

The term "jaal" is derived from the Urdu language and means "net" or "mesh." This style of embroidery involves creating a dense, interconnected network of stitches to form a beautifully detailed design.