Fact: The raw Pashmina fibre “pashm” is obtained from the underbelly of Changra goat (Capra hircus). The process of acquiring wool from Pashmina goats is cruelty free as neither the goats are killed nor it is harmed in the process of acquiring it. Due to intense cold, the goats develop thin wool which helps them bear harsh winters. During summer the goats naturally start shedding the wool and it gets combed (May-July) by herders. The wool is gently removed from the body either manually or using a wooden/aluminum comb with large bristles which doesn’t harm the animal. Hence, Pashmina making is responsible & cruelty free.

Fact: This confusion arises from the fact that historically, Pashmina is not a registered fabric and contaminations/mixtures of the product have led to emergence of numerous replicas which contain very less percentage of the Pashmina fibre and are sold at cheap prices in the market. It is often mixed with sheep wool, silk, cotton and synthetics to save on costs. Pure Pashminas are traditionally hand-spun and handcrafted involving meticulous designs which they learned through generations across Pashmina producing landscapes. Since it involves dexterous handicraft skills and produced only in small batches by artisans, the final product is unique and expensive. A pure Pashmina shawl sometimes takes months to be finished.

Fact: Natural handcrafted Pashmina products come in three primary colors: white, black and brown (beige) owing to the natural hair color of the Changthangi goat. The vibrant hues of reds, blues and green is the result of the dyeing/bleaching process. Pashmina is one of the finest fibre and upon dyeing/bleaching, it loses its softness and becomes stiff. Artisans across the globe prefer neutral shades so as not to alter the natural quality of the fibre and if they are dyeing, they prefer to dye the thread or blend the yarn in different colors rather than doing it on the fabric itself.

Fact: Italy doesn’t produce any Pashmina directly but remains one of the largest international suppliers of Cashmere goods. They import Chinese, Mongolian and Iranian yarn but the raw fibre originates from Changra goat (parent goat) indigenous to Changthang region of Eastern Ladakh in India. High elevation and freezing cold climate are conducive for obtaining extremely thin fibre known world over for its softness. Despite its place of origin and supreme quality, the Ladakh Pashmina constitutes only 1% of the global Cashmere production.