Do You Know the Significance of Owning a Cashmere Wrap?

A Cashmere wrap is more than just a piece of cloth. It carries in each of its strands a touch of royalty and an essence of rich cultural history. The meticulously hand woven texture is unparalleled and no modern day machine woven fabric can offer anything close. So, owning one such piece is indeed very special and significant!

Cashmere wrap or shawl is made of pure ‘pashm’ and therefore is often referred to as pashmina. When literally translated, it means "soft gold’. The name stands true as per the soft texture and rich heritage of this woollen fabric. Owning one such piece is like ensnaring a part of a rich textile heritage behind the doors of your almirah.

The source of pashmina-

The ‘pashm’ or the special kind is derived from the pashmina goats, also called Chyangra, found in the hilly terrains of Kashmir, Tibet and Nepal. They dwell in areas where temperature drops several notches below the freezing point. To save themselves from such adverse weather conditions, these animals grow a thick and incredibly soft coat that is nearly six times finer than human hair.

During late spring and summer, the goats rub themselves against coarse rocks, leaving behind strains of this fine fibre. Each shed around 3 to 6 ounces of fibre from their inner coat. At present to meet the heavy demand of pashmina shawls and wraps worldwide, goats are commercially reared for extraction of wool. Every winter, they grow a new coat of this fine wool.

History behind the cashmere wrap-

Tradition holds Zayn-Ul-Abidin as the founder of pashmina industry as he was the one to introduce weavers from central Asia to the valleys of Kashmir. Because the weaving started in Kashmir, India, the world came to know these as cashmere wraps.

Mention of pashmina in the pages of epics and history-

Pashminas are timeless and have successfully survived the test of time. Its mention in the following chapters of cultural, religious and world history is a proof for it.

• Indian classical epic-

Mahabharata is among the two classical Indian epics. There is mention of pashmina shawls in its verses as a favourite among kings and emperors. There, they referred to pashmina as the "fibre for kings".

You too can wrap yourself in such a regal piece. It’s like an heirloom being passed from the distant Indian culture into your hands. Team up with modern outfits and make it your symbolic style statement!

• European history-

The Cashmere wrap even fascinated the great Roman general Julius Caser when he was on his Middle East conquests. These shawls were, in fact, a delight for the French queen, Marie Antoinette.

If you want to add some regal touch to your attire, just wrap a beige, gold or ivory cashmere and relive the royal essence.

Did you know? Even the German Nazi leader Hitler had gifted a pashmina shawl to impress his lover. The smooth, soft and rich texture startled her as she ordered for more.

The weaving of pashmina-

The pashmina wool is so fine in texture that it cannot be woven in machines; there lies a chance of tear and damage. Therefore, all pashmina wraps are hand woven and require extreme amount of hard work. So, do not gauge out your eyes when you find them a little expensive, because the labour involved is enormous. Authentic Kashmiri pashminas are, in fact, justly expensive, for it requires nearly 200 man-hours to weave each piece.

The weaving of pashmina is an art in itself and it mesmerises you when you see the amount of dedication and commitment each labourer puts into the shawls. Therefore, when you buy a Cashmere wrap, you’re gaining a fruit of months of a craftsman’s labour which no amount of money can measure.

How did it get its modern touch?

During 18th century, the market and demand of Kashmiri pashminas became international. With the advent of the East India Company, the British started exporting large amounts of these light weighted artistically woven pieces to Europe. There, these captured a huge market. With their intervention in designs and cuts as per their taste, the Kashmiri pashmina got a Western, modern touch.

People around the world still use these as wedding shawls. So, many families gift these as the traditional family heirloom to their daughters or in-laws in marriage. Such is the value of a pashmina shawl even today.

It’s time you own one!

There are online stores all across Europe who deal in original Cashmere shawls. Their products are made of the real ‘pashm’ and meticulously woven to fabricate each piece. So, you should buy one to realise the lofty significance it carries in each of its strands.

You would not require travelling all the way to the Himalayan valleys to get your hands on the best Cashmere wrap. Just a click on your computer screen will get one at your doorstep!

Author Bio: Alex Thomas is well known content writer. He has a lot of experience and has written many articles on the topic of Wedding Shawls and Cashmere Wrap.

Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/clothing-articles/do-you-know-significance-owning-cashmere-wrap-1601334.html

Alex Thomas is well known content writer. He has a lot of experience and has written many articles on the topic of Bridal shawl and Pashmina Shawl.