Is an original Pashmina Shawl worth buying? Why spend thousands of rupees when there are so-called Pashmina Shawls on websites like Amazon that cost only Rs 1000?
Why choose an Original Pashmina Shawl over an ordinary shawl when both will provide warmth? What difference will a gift of Pashmina Shawl make?
These are the questions one may ask himself or delve for answers to when the idea of buying an Original Pashmina Shawl comes to mind.
So, first things first!
What actually is an Original Pashmina Shawl?
And why does it have a high cost?
Artisans source the finest Pashmina wool yarn from the underbelly of the Changthangi breed of goats, also known as “Pashmina Goats,” found exclusively on the Changthang plateau in Ladakh, India. In winter, the temperature may drop to -40 degrees Celsius.
So, nature has gifted these goats with wool of incredible warmth. And, from there, the process of making an Original Pashmina Shawl starts.
The wool is actually around 12–16 microns thick. For reference, the hairs found on the human head are around 100 microns thick. These finest Pashmina wool threads are processed carefully with techniques that have been passed down through generations.
The delicate Pashmina threads can’t be spun using modern machinery. The art of working with and processing the Pashmina wool to make it a beautiful piece is as rare as the availability of the Pashmina wool itself.
The whole process and each and every step involved in it have been manual till today.
The weaving of this wool, which is known as Wonun, is done by artists known as Wovur. The Wovur uses both hands and feet simultaneously, like a pianist doing magic on a piano.
The making of a Pashmina Shawl, after going through almost 30 processes, can take months to complete. At this stage, the product is just a woven shawl, made from Pashmina wool, that may appear simple without any work of art or design on it.
The different designing or embroidery techniques add another layer of exquisite appearance with additional time and added value.
For example, artisans intricately embroider by hand, taking weeks to almost three years to complete the required design.
When the Pashmina wool yarn, that starts at a price of nearly Rs 20,000 per KG (an average Pashmina Shawl weighs around 300 GM), after going through 30 odd stages and having delicate designing or embroidery work done, ends up being an Original Pashmina Shawl, the shawl gains some value, and that value shows the efforts that have been put in to make that particular beautiful and luxury shawl.
The truth of “Pashmina Shawl” at Rs 1000!
By now, we know that shawls coming with the tag “Pashmina” at a price of Rs 1000 in the market or on various platforms like Amazon, Myntra, etc. cannot be original Pashmina, because of the extensive work involved making them.
These so-called cheap-selling Pashmina Shawls are the result of increased demand and less information available in the market. The commonly available Pashmina shawls are a blend of wool with silk and sometimes materials like viscose, polyester, acrylic, etc.
Artisans make the Original Pashmina Shawl only with pure Pashmina. Even the simplest original Pashmina piece with solid colour and without any detailed work can’t be cheaper than Rs 5000, that too a smaller stole size.
The choice between an ordinary shawl and the Original Pashmina Shawl
Buying an ordinary piece and comparing it with the true Pashmina piece is comparing Reebook and Reebok or Abibas with Adidas. Both can look the same at first glance, but when you wear them, experience them, and see them thoroughly, you are able to find the actual difference.
Like Reebook shoes fulfil the desire of wearing a shoe with a fine design, but you will feel a lack of comfort, luxury, and chic of an original Reebok.
Similarly, when you buy an ordinary shawl, you may feel the warmth of a shawl, but you won’t experience the softness, luxury, and true warmth that come with the lightweight Pashmina wool that nature gives us.
Not to mention, the slightly experienced eye can always identify an original piece, hand embroidery vs machine embroidery.
Pashmina Shawls have always been a choice of elites for their true features. But shawls traditionally hand-made using pure Pashmina thread provide a satisfaction that fake pashmina, tempered process, or completely synthetic fiber shawls can’t offer.
An artificial piece wears out and shows signs of wear within a few uses, whereas families pass down a pure Pashmina as an heirloom over generations.
The difference of gifting a true Pashmina piece
The Pashmina has been a favourite of royals for centuries. The Mughal kings, their family members, and the nobles had their charm all over it. Not just in India, Pashmina has gained popularity all over the world too.
When the French monarch Napoleon Bonaparte gifted a Pashmina Shawl to his wife Josephine, the Pashmina became popular all over the world and became a part of royal clothing, gifting, and even the royal courtroom decor.
When you gift something to someone special, you care about emotions, respect, and value. Imagine a piece crafted using centuries-old traditional techniques and rare fibers, created through immense effort. There is no better way to show true emotion, respect, and value to someone special and valuable in your life.
The Original Pashmina Shawls are not just a standout gift; they are true heirlooms. An heirloom passes from generation to generation.
KCS Kashmir Shawl Emporium: The Heritage of Khub Chand Sawhney
The ancient arts are one of the forms of true natural beauty. And, it is equally truly amazing to see those who carry out this beauty throughout the ages.
Khub Chand Sawhney, with his hard work, passion, and desire, established an emporium in the heart of Delhi, India, to bring exclusive Kashmiri shawls and craftsmanship to its admirers.
At KCS Kashmir Shawl Emporium, we are proud to carry out his legacy to date.
We not only bring the best of Kashmiri art to you, but we also ensure you always get the original piece every time you shop from us, Each Pashmina piece is sent to Govt. of India’s Pashmina Testing Laboratory to get a certificate of purity and authenticity, The lab issues a report and affixes a QR code, which can be scanned to check the authenticity of the product.
Shop at KCS for a variety of designs and styles
At KCS Kashmir Shawl Emporium, an Original Pashmina Shawl is available in different styles or designs. From hand-printed motifs and butehs to hand-embroidered designs, you will find a variety of pieces to suit your desire to own a stylish and luxurious Original Pashmina piece.
Every time you shop at KCS, we take care to make your shopping experience hassle-free with the facilities of easy return and worldwide shipping. You get your favourite piece at your desired location in the shortest possible time.
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