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 Shawl Textiles Cashmere is a term originally referring to fabric woven from the soft wool gathered from the downy undercoat of the Capra Hircus mountain goat in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Presently, it is also produced by 68 breeds of goats in 12 countries. Cashmere fiber is from the same goats that produce Pashmina fiber, and is usually classified as such when is about 15-19 microns in diameter. Pashmina ~ Our heirloom quality pure Pashmina shawls are woven of the finest grade, naturally shed fiber of the Capra Hircus goats who roam the high steppes of the Tibetan Plateau including Tibet proper, Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kinnaur at altitudes of 12,000-14,000 feet. This precious, rare wool is diligently hand gathered from the rocks and shrubs and also combed from the goats themselves by the amazing herdsmen who travel with these hearty mountain animals across the plateaus. It is then journeyed by these same herdsmen to the regional Pashmina wool buyers from whom it subsequently finds its way to the buyers and weaving villages of Kashmir. There, exceptionally skilled women taught from childhood the secrets of true Pashmina are entrusted to first separate the downy undercoat Pashmina fibers from the slightly thicker gauge Cashmere and unusable dead fibers. They then artfully hand-spin this pure Pashmina into a gossamer yarn. Heirloom quality pure Pashmina fiber is so delicate at only 11-14 microns in diameter, that it requires hand spinning and hand weaving. Hamsa Shawls pure Pashmina shawls originate from the most highly regarded and largest producer of Pashmina in Kashmir and are of the finest quality, appreciated and acquired by notable families and collectors in Kashmir, India, Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Textile Fact: The U.S. government does not recognize Pashmina as a separate fiber from Cashmere, but in areas of the world where this cherished wool has been lovingly gathered, woven, dyed, and worn for countless centuries, the distinction is clear. Much of the Pashmina on the market today comes from areas where the Capra Hircus goats are ranched at slightly lower elevations, producing good quality Pashmina, but not as fine as that from the higher elevations of the arid and extremely cold Himalayan plateaus. This is the fiber frequently used in fashionable Silk Pashmina wraps. Pashmina Silk is known by many other names such as Cashmere Pashmina, Pashmere, Cashmina, or Pashmina Cashmere. Composed of primarily Pashmina diameter fiber, Pashmina Silk fabrics frequently contain some Cashmere fibers as well. The delicate Pashmina fibers or yarns are blended with Silk for its beautiful sheen and strength. Most Pashmina Silk on the market today is still hand-loomed and hand-dyed. This is a wonderful textile that has a soft hand and exquisite drape. Lambswool Pashm refers to an exclusive, extra fine lambswool fabric woven from the most delicate inner layer fibers which have been produced and gathered only by very exceptional wool concerns in Scotland. It is sometimes referred to as “Pashm of the Lamb.” These fibers are spun, woven, and dyed in India by a Master of Shawl. Lambswool Pashm is downy soft, lightweight, warm, and offers a velvety feel to the skin. For its durability and appropriateness to support a highly embellished surface, this is the fabric used in the Hamsa Shawls “Artisan” collection of hand embroidered, heirloom quality shawls. Some of our finely embroidered Glamour Shawls are also fashioned from Lambswool Pashm. Lambtoosh is an ultrafine, extremely sheer, lightweight, warm, luxury fabric created by the same Master of Shawl from India who created the Lambswool Pashm fabric. Its creation was inspired by the tradition of the finest of Shahtoosh shawls. Lambtoosh fibers are the Pashm, or inner layer fibers, from the very first crop of baby lambswool, and are gathered by only the highest caliber wool producers in England. This extraordinary, delicate wool is twice dyed, sometimes with a neutral color base, then with a fashion color on top, producing a soft, sophisticated tone. All dying, spinning, and weaving processes are performed with exceptional standards of quality and care in Northern India. Fine Lambswool of exceptional yarns that drape beautifully and provide the softest feel on the skin are used in the weaving of Hamsa Shawls. While high-grade wools come from many different countries, most of the Lambswool in our shawls are from India, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand. Our Lambswool shawls are generally produced in light or mid-weight fabrics, with an occasional heavier weight piece included in the collection. Natural Silk used in weaving or embroidery of Hamsa Shawls is produced, spun, and woven in India and Nepal. Both of these countries have a long tradition of very fine quality silk textiles and excel in the design and weaving of exquisite natural silks. Shahtoosh fibers originate from a small Tibetan antelope, the Chiru, which lives at altitudes of 15,000-20,000 feet. Almost driven to extinction in the 1980’s and 1990’s by wool traders seeking to supply the fashion world’s demand for shawls from this rarest of fibers, the Chiru are now on the endangered species list in many countries, and Shahtoosh shawls have been banned for trade by the World Wildlife Foundation. Indeed, trade and production of Shahtoosh fabrics and shawls is illegal in most countries, including the United States. The legendary Shahtoosh shawls of ancient and modern times were the prize treasures of the elite in Kashmir, India, Nepal, and Tibet. They were frequently presented as gifts in that part of the world to members of the aristocracy and visiting diplomats. The weavers of Kashmir zealously guard the secrets of weaving this exquisite, almost transparent fiber. Hamsa Shawls is committed to supporting this ban on trading in Shahtoosh and to saving the Chiru Antelope. Please, if anyone offers you a Shahtoosh shawl for sale here in the U.S., report the incident to U.S. Customs immediately. |
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