FAQ + Care Tips

How to wash your pashmina shawls/sweaters ?

  • Hand wash in water using your hair shampoo. Be sure to dissolve the shampoo thorough then put the shawls/sweaters into water. Rinse with hair conditioner, this would make your pashmina sweater or any pashmina garments softer. Wash colored garments separately. Do not bleach pashmina shawls/sweaters.
  • Squeeze your pashmina sweater gently, do not twist or wing. Twisting the wet pashmina sweater would stretch the shape of your pashmina sweater.
  • Dry flat your pashmina shawls/sweater after removing excess water, away from direct heat and sunlight.
  • Press your pashmina shawls/sweaters with damp cloth, using a cool iron, iron from the inside of the garment.

How to store your pashmina shawls/sweaters?

In order to store your pashmina sweaters few thing to be remembered. Here we have summarized few of them:

  • Dampness, sunlight and leakages are very harmful to your precious pashmina shawls/sweaters. So before storing your pashmina shawls/sweater in basements or attics, always keep in mind that your pashmina sweaters don?t get in touch with dampness, sunlight and leakages. Fold pashmina sweater or pack them neatly in tissue paper or polythene bag and store them in closet away from light, dust and dampness.
  • To store a pure pashmina shawls/sweater during summer, the most important thing is to keep moisture away, and so please do not store pashmina shawls/sweaters in a damp place.

Few more extra tips

You can use the following tips to keep your pashmina sweater always clean and beautiful:

  • Avoid wearing the same pashmina sweater frequently; allow the pashmina sweater two or three days' rest after one day's wearing.
  • A silk scarf goes well with pashmina sweater top and cardigan, to put it between your pashmina sweater top/cardigan and your neck will also prevent powder or other cosmetics stains.
FAQ

Why is cashmere so expensive?

The harsh geography of this area of the Gobi Desert supports a very limited number of goats. It takes one of these rare goats four years to grow enough cashmere for one sweater. Each goat is combed by hand every spring. Then the fleece is collected and sorted by hand. Cashmere sweaters are usually knit on hand-operated machines. Therefore, the scarcity of the fiber and the handwork required to convert that fiber into a luxurious garment both contribute to cashmere's price.

What is Pashmina/Cashmere?

Pashmina/Cashmere prized by royalty in past is often refrred to as the "diamond" of all fibers . It is the most luxurious , lightweight and rarest cashmere fiber found in the world . cashmere is a unique form of pashmina that comes from the soft underbelly of the "cnyangra" mountain goat. Which is native to the Himalayan belt , an area around and above 12000 and 14000 feet.

Why do similar looking cashmere sweaters have very different prices?

There are significant differences in the quality of cashmere, and therefore, the price of the fiber that can be used in a cashmere garment. There are variations in the fineness of the cashmere from various origins. Finer cashmere is more expensive than coarser cashmere. Color also plays a role. The whiter, more expensive fiber needs less dye to color it. Dying harms the feel of the cashmere so this is important. Cashmere fiber is also priced by its length. Longer fiber is more expensive because it makes stronger yarn that pills less. All of these variables play a role in the cost variation between seemingly similar garments. Usually you get what you pay for.

What is the difference between pashmina & cashmere?

There is absolutely no difference between the two.  Pashmina is the Indian/Persian word for Cashmere.  The word "CASHMERE" is derived from the Himalayan region of Nepal , where as Pashmina is the original name for the same fiber.

What are the different grades of cashmere?

Cashmere is available in several grades, including "Grade-A", "Grade-B" and so on.  We offer only the highest quality cashmere products made with "Grade-A" cashmere.  All the pashmina and cashmere products that we offer are made with this very fine grade of wools .

How do I care for a cashmere sweater?

Threat your cashmere like your hair. Gently wash it in warm water with a mild soap (shampoo will do). Block it out on a towel to shape and let it dry. Dry cleaning may be the only answer for stubborn stains.

How do I tell a good pashmina/cashmere sweater from a poor one?

Your fingers are very good judges. If a cashmere sweater doesn't feel smooth, soft and luxurious, don't buy it. The other critical factor is density/weight.  Loosely knit, limp fabric is the hallmark of a cheaply made sweater. A good sweater should feel hefty and substantial even if it is lightweight.
 

How long will a Pashmina/Cashmere shawls , sweater last?

That depends on the quality and how it is worn and cared for. Generally speaking more expensive shawl/sweaters will last longer than less expensive shawl/sweaters. With normal wear and proper care a high quality cashmere sweater should last many years - maybe a lifetime!

 

What is the difference between the pure pashmina & the pashmina with silk blend?

Our pure pashminas, all our cashmere apparel, throws and blankets are made with 100% pure cashmere and do not contain any silk in it. The pure pashmina is softer, warmer and heavier than the pashmina-silk blends.

 

The pashminas with silk are woven with silk running the length of the weave, and cashmere on the width of the weave. Hand-weaving gives the shawl its distinctive character and produces its slender drape, elegant silk sheen, and soft, delicate feel. It's no wonder the shawl has become a fashion favorite.Shawl-making in Nepal is not a science but an art?a craft involving many hand processes. As such, the exact content of Pashmina and silk may vary slightly from shawl to shawl.

How many Ply's are your pashmina & cashmere products?

Ply's are strands of yarn twisted together to make one piece of yarn. Two-ply is thicker than one-ply, and so on. Our products are offered in the following ply's:

Pashmina Shawls, Wraps, Ponchos -    2 ply , 4 -ply

Cashmere Scarves & Throws           -   3 and 4 ply

Cashmere Sweaters                              -2 and 4 ply

Cashmere Blankets & Overcoats -        2 and 4 ply

Cashmere Hats, Gloves & Socks -       2 Ply

 

Where can I view the colors offered?

To see our color guide, please contact in our office or send us request mail .     

How do I select the correct size?

To see our sizing guide, please contact in our office or send us request mail .     

How do I care for my pashmina and cashmere products?

We recommend Soft dry cleaning all pashmina and cashmere products.  For more information on how to care for cashmere products, please contact in our office or send us mail .  

 

Can I wash my pashmina / cashmere knitwear?

Yes, it is not essential that you dry clean your purchase, although it is the safest method.

You can hand wash your pashmina / cashmere knitwear in warm water with either a specialised cashmere detergent or a mild fabric conditioner.

In how many days will I receive my order ?

We dispatch all orders by DHL / UPS / Fedex / TNT and other COURIES SERVICE within three days of receiving payments. Please allow another 4 days for the delivery services to actually deliver the goods to your Country?s  Door-step.

Where do I see the colour range?

We have a wide range of more than 400 Colours available.  We use pantoon colors and

Our official charts also .

How do I place an order?

Select the size (shawl, stole or scarf) and type (pure pashmina or silk blend) that you want from the main menu , color name and other details and send it to our e-mail or you can also call us at office time .

Can I place a large order for my company/family function?

Sure. We are always happy to accommodate special orders. Please call our sales department at 977-01-4285453 , 977-01-4701680 or email us for more information.

what does the 70% pashmina - 30% silk means ?

 

The original Pashmina is a mix of 70% Pashmina wool and 30% silk. True 100% Pashmina is palpably lighter and a little warmer than silk blends, however, they are not as strong as the 70/30 and they lack the sheen and the elegant drape of the silk.

What is a Single Ply, Double Ply, 2 Paddle, 4 Paddle?

Single Strand of wool is used to make regular Pashmina silk blend Pashmina: thus Single Ply, 2 Strands of Pashmina yarn is used making a double ply. Double Ply contains more Pashmina than single ply. 2 Paddle and 4 Paddled Pashmina are for 100% Pashmina. 2 Paddle is looser weave, while 4 paddle is a tighter weave.

Are your Pashmina`s hand loomed or machine loomed?

All our Pashmina are individually hand loomed by Nepalise craftspeople. Each Pashmina, after being created are colored individually by hand. Beware of traders selling machine loomed pashmina as the far superior hand loomed variety.

 

Why PASHMINA/CASHMERES ?



Pashmina/cashmere is the warmest natural insulation in the world. Fabric made of Pashmina is warm and comfortable to the wearer, and it has excellent draping qualities and soft texture. The fibre, which absorbs and retains moisture much like wool. Pashmina is used mainly for shawls and scarves, fine coat, dress, and suit fabrics and for high-quality knitwear and hosiery.
Pashmina became known for its use in beautiful shawls and other handmade items produced in Kathmandu (Nepal) and Kashmir (India). In the early 19th century Pashmina shawls reached their greatest popularity, and the shawls of England, France, and the town of Paisley, Scotland, were made to imitate the original Pashmina/cashmere shawls , sweateres and other products .

Perhaps nothing epitomizes the glorious history of Himalayan craftsmanship, as warmly and beautifully, as does the Pashmina/cashmeres. A legacy of the Great Moghuls of earstwhile Indian Empire evolved over three hundred years under the patronage of four different rules. The romance of Pashmina really reached it's Zenith, when it cast its spell over the European royalty. It is said that in 1796, Abdullah Khan, the Afghan Governor of Kashmir gifted an exquisite Pashmina shawl to Sayyid Yahya, a visitor of Bhagdad. Yahya presented the shawl to the Khedive in Egypt who in turn, presented it to Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon found the shawl fit to adorn the shoulders of the future Empress Josephine. Such was the fascination of the Western world for these exotic Eastern masterpieces, that no brides trousseau, no noble women's wardrobe was complete, without a Pashmina/cashmeres.

What is Shahtoosh ?

Shahtoosh

HARATI doesn't produce from Shahtoosh.

Shahtoosh comes from an animal which has been slaughtered almost to extinction for it's wool. Meaning king of wools, this is the most precious natural fiber on the planet.

Actually shahtoosh doesn't come from a goat. It comes from a little antelope, the Tibetan "Chiru" (Panthalops Hodgsoni).Living at altitudes of 15-20,000 feet. Traditional Chirus were hunted for meat by mountain nomads. Their beautiful horms were used as gun mounts and their skins sold off to wool traders. This wool makes it's way to to Kashmir. The wool is sorted into grades of color. The darker brown hairs are the newest and softest but the pure white is the most prized and most rare. Half again as thin as the finest cashmere, shahtoosh possess some remarkable properties. An egg wrapped in a shawl and left in the sun would be cooked in a few hours. No surprise shahtoosh retains heat so well, considering the Chiru spends most of his life in sub freezing temperatures.

In the 80s and 90s shahtoosh was discovered by the fashion world. Wool traders encouraged the wholesale slaughter of herds of Chirus. With the availability of high powered rifles and all terrain jeeps. It wasn't long before they became threatened with extinction. Chirus are on the endangered species list and if it weren't for the gallant efforts of a handful of wildlife protection organizations they would probably be on the extinction list. Today, production and trafficking of goods made from shahtoosh are banned worldwide, including Nepal and India.

Efforts are also underway to find subsitutes for the exquisite shahtoosh shawls. Very fine pashmina made from handspun yarns approaches the delicate downiness of shahtoosh.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PASHMINA AND CASHMERE

Pashmina is often inaccurately described as the highest quality of cashmere. In fact there is no difference between cashmere and pashmina. The highest quality of pashmina is the highest quality of cashmere, and the lowest pashmina is the lowest cashmere. Pashmina and cashmere refer to the same thing. The raw material comes from Tibet and Inner Mongolia.