What Is Pashmina?

Pashmina is a type of soft wool from a goat. It is also the name of a shawl or scarf designed for both beauty and warmth. Historically, a Pashimina was woven from 100 percent cashmere wool. Contemporary Pashminas are woven from a combination of silk and cashmere. They are valued as elegant yet practical fashion accessories.

History

Pashmina shawls have been produced in India since the third century B.C. Cashmere wool is made from the under-hair of Himalayan goats native to the Kashmir region of India. The goats shed their soft insulating undercoat every spring. Cashmere-producing goats are now also raised in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia

Production

Pashminas are still made by hand. They are tightly woven with a design of two to four colors that looks different on each side of the shawl or scarf.

Origin

The most popular Pashminas currently are produced in India, Turkey and Nepal. They are hand spun and hand woven, usually from 70 percent cashmere and 30 percent silk. They are very warm and soft, have a slight sheen and drape beautifully.

Sizes

Sizes vary from about 12 by 60 inches for a scarf, to 36 by 80 inches for a full-sized Pashmina shawl.

The Name

Pashmina comes from the Persian word for wool, "pashm." "Pashmineh" is the Persian name for the cashmere goat, known as "changthangi" in Tibet.