Pashmina

Cold Winters brought fear for ones survival

Each cold winter we are still reminded that even in  DARK TIMES

Hope is waiting to be reborn inside each of us

Pashmina: Specialty Fibre

Pashmina: Keeps Man warm in cold winters

Pashmina: Extremely lightweight and warm

History Of Pashmina

Found in Afghan Texts: 3 rd century BC 

Pashmina crafts were introduced by Mir Syed Ali Hamdani

Pashmina crafts were introduced to Kashmir by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. 

A 14th century sufi saint who travelled to Kashmir from Persia along with 700 craftsmen through Ladakh, the homeland of Kashmir goats, for the first time in history he found that the Ladakhi goats produced soft wool.

 He suggested to the king of Kashmir, Sultan Abdin to start a shawl weaving industry in Kashmir using this wool. Afterwards weavers were brought from Turkestan which gave shape to Pashmina industry in Kashmir. The experience of craftsmanship and heritage passed on from one generation to another.

Founder of Pashmina Industry: 15 th Century ruler of Kashmir Zayn -ul - Abidin

Authentic Kashmiri Pashmina comes from breed of the Capra Hircus goat

Pashmina: Robe Of Honor 

Zahiruddin Babur (1483–1530) founded the Mughal (from “Mongol”) Empire in 1526 C.E.., and established the custom of rewarding allies with robes of honor. 

A pair of Kashmiri shawls became an expected part of khil’at ceremonies under his grandson, the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1606). After conquering Kashmir in 1568, Akbar showed great interest in the production of Kashmiri shawls, and encouraged their use through his personal example. 

Akbar initiated shawl cloth production in imperial workshops at Lahore, Patna, and Agra, directing changes in how these shawls were to be woven and dyed.

 In addition to the finest shawls made of white shah tush (wild ibex hair) supposedly reserved for the Emperor and his family, artisans wove shawls from domesticated goat hair, silk, sheep wool, or combinations of fibers.

During Akbar’s reign, robes of honor were normally given within the emperor’s ruling circle, but the practice was greatly expanded under his successors.

    

                                    Pashmina (Robe Of Honor To  Rest Of The World)

During the 16th century when Western travelers came to Kashmir through Silk Route, they found the great arts and crafts in this vast valley. 

The businessmen from European countries like France and British discovered uniqueness and softness in their wool – ‘The Pashm’. They named it ‘Cashmere‘ and this new name came into existence from the word ‘Kashmir’. 

The great travelers and officers of British and French empire send these Pashmina(Cashmere) products to their families as a precious gifts.

 This soft wool became famous by the name of Pashmina and more popularly ‘Cashmere’ in the western world.

                 Every Pashmina is Cashmere but every Cashmere is not Pashmina.

                                                                    Snapshot

                                                    3 rd century BC - Till Date