The Making of Pashmina

by Mir Saeid Digital Marketing Consultant

At an altitude of about 4,000-5,000 meters in the high mountains of Ladakh, lives the Changthangi goat in pretty harsh climatic conditions. As the temperatures there often fall down to as low as -40 degrees celsius, these goats develop a special kind of fur to resist the cold weather.

Come spring and the Changthangi goats naturally shed this winter coat. A tribe of people called the ‘Changpa’ residing in Kashmir then obtains this wool from the goats, either by combing or by shearing. This fleece/ underfur/ wool from the goats is then sold at centers where it is processed to make a very precious shawl.

This very special wool is used to make one of the most luxurious items in the world- the Pashmina shawl.

The Process that goes behind making a Pashmina shawl:

After the skilled artisans of Kashmiri have obtained the wool, the process of weaving the shawl begins. A Pashmina shawl typically requires the wool from three goats. There are several important processes that need to be done before the weaving begins. The first process is called ‘gluing’. A very natural glue is used to bind all the wool strings together.

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After the strings have been glued together, they are spread across with the help of metallic rods/ pillars which are fixated on the ground. This is to give a shape and size to these strings. The wool is then spun on a spinning wheel called ‘Chakra’. This is quite a painstaking task.

Then, finally after all the above processes, the weaving process begins. Traditional handlooms are used for this as pashmina wool can only be weaved using hands and not with machines. That is how fine the pashmina wool is! This makes the process very laborious and time consuming.

As everything is done using hands, this process can take up to several days to months. Pashmina weaving is an art in itself and the artisans behind it are extremely skilled. Different kinds of Pashmina products like Pashmina shawl, stole, Pashmina muffler, Pashmina jacket etc. usually require different kinds of looms.

After all these processes that take a very, very long time, the layout of the Pashmina shawl is ready. Yes, there’s more to it!

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Making the fringe, dyeing, design and embroidery:

To add extra beauty to the Pashmina shawl, fringes are added to its two opposite sides. This is also an artistic process and requires hours to be done.

After the shawl is ready with its fringes, it is dyed in desired colors. This process too, like every other process, requires patience and precision.

After the Pashmina shawl has been dyed and dried, the process of embroidering it begins. A rough design with the help of wooden blocks is first traced on the shawls. Then, an expert embroidery artist begins to work his magic on this shawl by adorning it with beautiful and colorful threads in various designs.

And that is how a Pashmina shawl is made. It takes several months to make just a single piece. The process is immensely laborious and every step needs to be done with utmost care. That is how you get your favorite Pashmina shawl, thanks to all these wonderfully skilled artisans working tirelessly.

For the best pashmina shalws, visit Kashmirica.