Pashmina is a fashion item that
has been popular for over a decade. This delicate, hand-woven fabric was once
in such demand that suppliers weren’t able to keep up with requests.
This helped encourage some less
than honest companies to manufacture imitation pashmina products and claim it
is the real article. In order to keep from being swindled by these companies,
learn how to tell the difference between authentic pashmina and these
imitators.
Pashmina has two separate meanings. The word is used to describe a
specific type of wool found only in certain regions of the Middle East.
It is also used to describe the
products created from this wool. When people refer to imitation pashmina
products, they are using referring to the material used to make the accessories
originally created from the genuine wool.
A specific type of cashmere wool
originates from the changthangi, or a goat found in the higher elevations of Nepal,
Pakistan, and India. Due to the harsh conditions the goat lives in, the
changthangi has created a soft, warm, and weather resistant inner wool that is
incredibly fine and soft.
In fact, this wool is so fine it
can only be woven by hand. The pashmina wool is light and fine as it is woven
into sheer products, such as scarves, wraps, shawls, and stoles.
Genuine pashmina wool is
typically blended with silk to provide some substance. Common blends are half
pashmina, half silk or two-thirds pashmina and one-third silk.
Products made by genuine pashmina
are surprisingly warm despite the light, airy fabric. This makes these
accessories a fantastic edition to your winter wardrobe.
Imitation pashmina has little of
the changthangi wool in the product, and may have none at all. A popular
substitute is what is known as viscose.
Viscose is a manufactured product
that has similar characteristics, but not the original wool that originated the
term. One reason why companies can get away with this deception is that the
term pashmina changed over time.
When the product increased in
popularity, the word pashmina came to describe particular products, not the
type of wool. A wool and silk blend for a large scarf or shawl is an acceptable definition of the term.
If you are looking for a warm,
light, quality scarf, shawl, or wrap, you may be interested in genuine pashmina
wool products. Avoid items with labels that state they are made with viscose,
if you are looking for natural materials in your clothing.
The ability to identify the type
of wool that is used to create the accessory will help determine which
definition of the word pashmina the manufacturer follows. If the wool is
cashmere without stating its origin, it may be the commercial term the company
follows for its products.
If the wool comes from Nepal,
Pakistan, or India it may be genuine pashmina wool. Many commercial farmers who
raise changthangi goats for their wool live in Mongolia.
Mongolian
deserts have the same climate conditions as the high mountain regions of the
changthangi’s origins. This allows farmers to raise pashmina goats in a larger
area to meet production of genuine pashmina accessories.