Pashmina Shawls

Pashmina refers to a type of cashmere wool and textiles made from it. The name comes from Pashmineh, Persian "pashm" (= "wool"). This wool comes from a special breed of goat indigenous to the high altitudes of the Himalayas.
Original Kashmir Pashmina shawls cost more than their counterparts elsewhere in the world because these are traditionally hand-loomed. The test for a quality pashmina has been warmth, feel and the passing of the shawl through a wedding ring (a well known characteristic of the ring shawl).
Pashmina shawls are embroidered in needlework. Designs are varied - ranging from the border embroidered ones to creeper allover designs to the famous entire surface embroidered "Jamawar" shawls. Another type of Pashmina Shawls are the "Kani" Shawls, weaved on a handloom so skillfully that a pattern emerges on the shawl when it is removed from the loom.