A Guide to Buying Pashmina Wool

All those who have seen a shawl made of Pashmina are seduced by its softness, luxurious feel and artistry. No wonder they were prized by royalty. It is truly a great item to possess, gift or receive as a gift. Its rarity and uniqueness can add class to your wardrobe that can never go wrong.

About Pashmina
First of all, let us learn what is so special about Pashmina wool. If you have been impressed by Cashmere's softness, prepare to be blown away by Pashmina. This wool is very soft and light. It holds colors beautifully. It is also very rare. Pashmina wool is harvested from the Himalayan mountain goat. The winter coat from the underbelly which is shed naturally by the goat, makes the softest, best quality Pashmina. A lot of manual effort goes into separating the soft hair from the coarse hair by combing. Authentic Pashmina is only available in India, Nepal and more recently Mongolia. It is available only in very small quantities and is quite expensive.

Pashmina blends
Pashmina wool is always blended with a small percentage of silk. Pure Pashmina is so delicate that it cannot withstand tension and can only have a lose open weave. Though pure pashmina products are available they are not preferred due to prohibitive cost, effort is weaving and maintenance difficulties. The silk adds strength and shine to the fabric while keeping it thin and soft. The highest grade of Pashmina products contain twenty percent silk. More commonly available and slightly cheaper products contain up to thirty percent silk. Any more than that, and the value of the product decreases. Fifty percent blends are commonly available in the market and its alright as long as they are not being passed off as high quality products.

Tips for buying Pashmina