Cashmere: the best-loved fibre that nature has given us. Soft, bright, light and warm, desired by all, the last authentic status symbol.

Today a cashmere pullover is within everybody’s capabilities. It’s hard to think that until fifty years ago this yarn was reserved for kings, queens and Tibetan monks who have always worn a cashmere cape to protect themselves from the cold during meditation. In fact, in the ritual to prepare themselves for prayer, there’s the phrase “enter into the warm”.

The Origins of Cashmere

The origins and use of this fibre are lost in the centuries and reality is often confused with legend. You often hear talk of Sultans and Emperors who, once they knew about the characteristics of this fibre, wanted to own it. Legend says that the oldest origins date back to the 15th Century, when the Sultan of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abidir (a descendant of Genghis Khan), called “Akbar the Great” for his work as a promoter of art, invited to court a native weaver of Turkestan to make cashmere products which developed to such a point as to become the most important activity of the region.

Today in Srinagar in northern India, the summer capital of Kashmir, you can still find craft shops that manufacture cashmere products. However, real “Pashmina” shawls are increasingly rare.

The name derives from the Persian “Pashmin” (wool), a term used in the Indian continent to indicate cashmere.
The manufacturing of “Pashmina” by the ancient methods still survives today but only in the mountains of Ladakh, the horse territory between India and Tibet.

The long and laborious work can keep a family group busy all winter and is done entirely by hand, beginning with the selection of the fine fibres from the rough/coarse ones, followed by the spinning and the weaving.

It’s customary for the shawls to be given to the bride by the groom on their wedding day and tradition says that the “Pashmina” must pass through the nuptial ring.

LEGAL NOTICE
All the contents of this website are covered by copyright. Any reproduction, even partial, for commercial purposes is permitted only upon prior written authorisation from Natural Fantasy® SpA. The statements included on this site regarding products, tests and legal regulations are intended as exemplary and concern only Italy. We reserve the right to modify the products and the characteristics and specifications of the same without any notice. Consequently the illustrations and texts on the website contain details which may not necessarily correspond to the current proposal.
This website has been created with the greatest possible precision. Despite this, we can assume no responsibility as regards mistakes or the correctness of the information contained.
We decline any responsibility whatsoever for any damage directly or indirectly caused by the use of this website.