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Capra Hircus Goat

Capra Hircus goat which is the source of Pashmina lives at elevations of 14,500 feet (4,500 meters) and above, where temperatures rarely rise above minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 30 degrees centigrade) in winter. Studies have shown that goats living at lower elevations are not able to produce the extremely fine fibers that make Pashmina the unique product it is. Pashmina, the goat's soft underbelly down, which lies under the coarse outer hair. The diameter of a Pashmina fiber is about five times smaller than a human hair. Each goat produces only about 3 ounces or 90 grams of Pashmina wool each year. One woven Pashmina shawl requires the wool from three goats.

Spinning

The pashmina wool is collected every spring, and is basically spun by hand. The yarn is spun on a spinning wheel locally known as ‘Charkha’. Prior to spinning, the raw material is treated by stretching and cleaning it to remove any dirt and soaked for a few days in a mixture of rice and water to make it softer.Hand-spinning is an extremely painstaking task. It requires immense patience, dexterity and dedication, and is amazing process to watch.

Weaving

Pashmina yarn is too fragile for the vibration caused by power looms, the weaving of the traditional 100% Pashmina shawls are therefore done on Hand Looms. It is essential for the weaver to have a uniform hand, for par excellence fabric. Weaving here is done with a shuttle carrying the soft Pashmina yarn through the fine yet strong silk warp.The weaving process is in itself an art, which has been passed down over generations, to give you the fabulous shawls, which we offer.It takes about 4 days to weave a single Pashmina shawl

Fringes

The making of the distinctive Pashmina fringe is perhaps one of the most interesting stages of shawl making. The characteristic fringes of the Pashmina shawl are made by the nimble fingers of women. It takes hours to fringe each Pashmina shawl.

Dyeing

Dyeing is also done by hand, and each piece individually. Dyers with immense patience and generations of experience are the ones who dye the Pashmina shawls, as even the smallest negligence reflects on the quality of the product. Only metal and azo free dyes are used, making the shawls completely eco-friendly. The pure water used for dying is pumped up from deep beneath the surface. Dyeing is done at a temperature just below boiling point for nearly an hour. Pashmina wool is exceptionally absorbent, and dyes easily and deeply.