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Pashmina accessories
are available in a range of sizes, from fullsize shawl (36" x 80")
"stole" (28" x 80") "scarf" (22" x 80") or "mufler" (12" x 60").
Pure pashmina is a rather gauzy, open weave, as the wool cannot
tolerate high tension. The most popular pashmina fabric is a 70%
pashmina/30% silk blend, but 50/50 is also common. The 70/30 is
tightly woven, has an elegant sheen and drapes nicely, but is still
quite soft and light-weight.
When pashmina shawls rose into fashion prominence during the mid
90’s, they were marketed dubiously. Cashmere used for pashmina
shawls was claimed to be of a superior quality attributable to the
enhanced sheen and softness that the fabric (cashmere blended with
silk) encompassed. In the consuming markets, pashmina shawls were
again defined as a shawl/wrap with cashmere and silk,
notwithstanding the actual meaning of pashmina - which is
technically an accessory of pure pashmina and not the blend.
Following up, some unscrupulous companies marketed the man-made
fabric viscose as "pashmina" with deceptive marketing statements as
"authentic viscose pashmina". These are often sold for a very low
price, leaving the buyer to decide whether it is authenticity,
quality, or price that motivates their purchase. |
