Many shawls sold as pashmina are acrylic, viscose or blends. Real pashmina is one of the finest natural fibres there is.
The fibre is the undercoat of the Changthangi goat of Ladakh, combed in spring, then spun and woven by hand in Kashmir.
A pure pashmina shawl slips through a finger ring. Light synthetics can pass too, so never rely on this test alone.
Real pashmina warms to your skin in seconds. A fringe strand burns like hair to soft ash; synthetics melt into hard beads.
Kashmir Pashmina has had a GI tag since 2008. Look for the mark, and an invoice that states the fibre content.
Sozni embroidered and kani woven shawls take months of handwork. A full kani shawl can take 6 to 18 months to weave.
Verified stays, fixed cab fares and day-by-day plans from Srinagar.
Plan a Srinagar craft day Read how to identify real pashmina More Kashmir stories