3 Review(s)

Pashmina is a wondrous fabric. It is light as butter, warm as a freshly lit fireplace; yet it folds into almost nothing. The yarn is made from the downy hair of the Hyrcus goats, combed by hand from the underbellies when they are naturally moulting in spring. Despite similar climes in Australia, Europe, and North America, these goats are to be found exclusively in the highly arid high-altitude plateaux of Tibet and Ladakh. However, the skills required to spin the yarn, followed by dyeing, weaving, and embroidering the resulting fabric, is endemic to the nearby Indian valley of kashmir. This pashmina shawl is a fine example of that rare workmanship, which one begins to appreciate when you consider that it takes months to finish a single item of pashmina clothing.In that sense, Kashmir is the home of pashmina. The looms produce unusual textiles of superlative beauty to rule the season, which is what makes the pashmina shawl a work of art that you could wear. This one comes with luxuriant porportions of sozni, a style of intricate Kahsmiri embroidery that is done painstakingly by hand. Zoom in on the same to take in the stunning beauty and complexity of the designs. The motifs range from signature paisley curves to local flora in colours that are enough to steal the heart of any woman. Against the jet black base of the translucent shawl, the rich natural pastels of the foreground make for a vibrant riot. Team this with your select, on-the-minimal-side evening sarees to make a statement of traditional elegance.