The craze of the pashmina shawl is on a global level. Its fancy and warm properties make it one of the favorite wraps among people of every corner of this world. Pashmina shawls are made using a time-consuming and labor-intensive procedure. Fine Cashmere wool from a Himalayan goat is legitimately obtained throughout this method. It took years to produce the world-famous Kashmiri Pashmina. It is not just the procedure that distinguishes it but also a variety of other factors. It has been popular among well-known personalities since the 15th century.

What exactly is Pashmina?

Himalayan goat’s wool is used to make Pashmina Shawls. It is the handcrafting of premium garments from the Himalayan goat’s downy undercoat. The goat lives in the Changthang region of Ladakh, India. This area is more than 14000 feet above sea level. It is well-known for being the home of a herding community. For decades, the Changpa tribe has occupied the area. Changthangi goats are an uncommon kind of goat raised by them. And it is they who lead us to the first milestone in Pashmina production, namely the collection of goat wool.

Pashmina Production and Process

The Changthang region’s climate and way of life are highly demanding. During the winter, it is quite tough to survive here. During a snowfall, the area becomes blocked off from the rest of the globe. Changthang’s winter temperatures drop to -40 degrees Celsius, making life an uphill fight. And it appears that there is no indication of life in such settings, yet there is. The Changpa people and their goats manage to live even under such dire conditions. It’s tough to understand how the people live here, but it’s even more amazing to see how the goat survives.

Nature has endowed the Changthangi goat with fine Cashmere fleece that develops over its underbelly neck and some sensitive places of its body to help it endure temperatures as low as -40 degrees. Wool is delicate, fine, and extremely warm. The wool serves as insulation, keeping the goat warm and active.

The same fleece that let the goat survive in the winters makes it nervous as summer approaches. Wool provides exceptional warmth and comfort. Unfortunately, the goat rubs itself against the rough regions around it, causing part of the wool to heave heave heave heave heave heave heave heave heave Herders see this suffering and seek expert assistance to carefully comb out the remaining wool from the goat’s body. Specialized instruments, like combs and blades, are used. This procedure takes a long time since the specialists must ensure that the animals are not injured in any way.

Processing in Kashmir

The animal is free as soon as the wool is collected, and the wool is in a lump. Next, it is cleaned and taken to Kashmir to be processed. Kashmir is the only region where supremely skilled craftsmen can physically process Cashmere. When Pashmina arrives in the valley, it is washed and sorted once again, and the entire process begins. After washing and sorting, it is sent to valley women who spin it on a wooden spinning wheel. This step is critical since even manual tension can easily tear the soft cashmere fiber.