FAQ
Given below are the answers to frequently asked questions. If there is anything else you would like to ask, please contact us.
Question: What is Pashmina?
Answer: The word Pashmina is derived from the Persian word Pashm which means wool. It is obtained from outer skin shed by the high altitude Himalayan and Tibetan mountain goats. The Pashmina wool is superior to the ordinary wool.
Question: What is Pashmina origin?
Answer: Pashmina wool fiber artifacts of corroded copper date back to Bronze age Indus Valley Civilization.
Question: What about Pashmina Wikipedia?
Answer: Wikipedia covers Pashmina in terms of its definition, history, production and the products. All of these areas are extensively covered in the FAQ and also About Pashmina page of our site.
Question: What is Pashmina material?
Answer: Pashmina material is obtained from the outer skin shed by the high altitude Himalayan and Tibetan mountain goats (pashmina animal) grazing at the height of 10,000 feet or above sea level.
Question: What is Pashmina wool?
Answer: Pashmina material is handwoven and converted into Pashmina wool. The wool obtained from Ladakh of Indian Kashmir is called Pashmina wool Ladakh.
Question: Pashmina wool is from which animal?
Answer: The wool is obtained from Himalayan and Tibetan high altitude mountain goats.
Question: What is Pashmina wool price?
Answer: The wholesale trading of Pashmina wool takes place between local collectors of pashmina wool and the producers of pashmina scarves and shawls. Price of pashmina shawl is around US$100.00. On the average, pashmina wool price of the wool required to produce one pashmina shawl is between one third and half of the price of pashmina shawl.
Question: What is Pashmina fabric?
Answer: The wool is woven on hand looms to produce Pashmina fabric.
Question: Why is pashmina so special?
Answer: Pashmina wool is delicate, soft, fine, and exceptionally warm. Although the diameter of the wool is only 12 to 16 microns, the pashmina wool insulates the goat from the harshness of the extreme cold weather at the high altitude mountains, around 10,000 feet and more above the sea level. It are the thinness, softness, lightness in weight and warmth which make pashmina scarves and shawls superior to the ordinary woolen ones.
Question: Are pashminas illegal?
Answer: No, they are not illegal. However, there is an exception. Some unethical people and companies forcefully trap and kill the endangered species, and extract the wool from their underbelly to produce the fine wool called Shahtoosh. Owing to animal cruelty and the threat of extinction of endangered species, scarves and shawls made from Shahtoosh have been declared illegal worldwide.
Question: Are animals killed for Pashmina?
Answer: No, not at all. Animals are not killed to produce pashmina wool. However, some people and companies trap and kill these mountain goats to obtain the finest, softest, thinnest and the warmest wool from their underbelly. This wool is called Shahtoosh. Its production is illegal and it is banned internationally.
Question: What is 100% pashmina?
Answer: The pashmina scarves and shawls comprising exclusively pashmina wool in its entirety and woven on handlooms by the artisans is called 100% pashmina.
Question: Does Pashmina smell?
Answer: The pashmina scarf and shawl do not have any bad smell. However, to test the authenticity, once you soak a part of it it in water, the real pashmina will have a subtle bad odor. If there is no odor, the scarf or shawl is fake. Alternatively, if you burn a small bunch of loose threads, the burnt ash will leave smell of a burnt hair and the residue will be powdery. It is authentic pashmina. A fake pashmina will smell like burnt leaves and the residue will be bumps like small beads.
Question: What about Pashmina USA sale?
Answer: Pashmina scarves and shawls are available on sale in some of the large brick and mortar stores in USA.
Question: What about the availability of Pashmina USA online?
Answer: Yes. Pashmina scarves and shawls are available online on a number of ecommerce websites. These are also available online on e-Bay and Amazon.
Question: What about Pashmina USA shawl?
Answer: Pashmina shawls are not produced in USA but these are available both online and also in large brick and mortar stores.
Question: What is Pashmina USA price?
Answer: Owing to limited availability of the pashmina wool and the production of pashmina scarves and shawls on handlooms by the artisans on the one hand and the softness, thinness, lightness in weight and yet extraordinary warmth, Pashmina is pretty expensive. Pashmina shawl price is around USD 100.00 or so. The embroidered and other special scarves and shawls may cost from USD 150.00 to 300.00.
Question: Which is better and more expensive, Cashmere or Pashmina?
Answer: Pashmina is the fiber also known as pashmina wool. Pashmina produced in Indian Kashmir (cashmere) is called pashmina cashmere wool or cashmere pashmina wool and the one produced elsewhere including Nepal is called pashmina wool. The quality and expense cannot be attributed to either of the two i.e. Cashmere or Pashmina. It is the finer quality of the wool which would decide the quality and expense of the wool and its products. In fact, today, the two words have become synonym of each other.
Question: What is more expensive than Pashmina?
Answer: Illegal and banned Shahtoosh scarves and shawls are 10 to 20 times more expensive than pashminas. There is no doubt that the Shahtoosh scarves and shawls are a class of their own. If these were not banned, we would be selling the same, too.
Question: Is Pashmina a winter fabric?
Answer: Yes, primarily, it is a winter fabric. However, you can also wear it in the cool Summer evenings, particularly, the ring pashminas.
Question: Which country is famous for Pashmina shawl?
Answer: The best of pashmina are produced in Indian Kashmir (Cashmere) and Nepal.
Question: Which is better, wool or Pashmina?
Answer: Certainly, pashmina is better than ordinary wool. Pashmina is softer, finer, lighter, and more luxurious than other types of wool.
Question: Is Pashmina same as silk?
Answer: No, the two are altogether different than one another. Pashmina is obtained from the outer skin shed by the high altitude Himalayan and Tibetan mountain goats and the silk fabric is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm and it is also synthetically produced.
Question: What is the difference between a scarf and a Pashmina?
Question: Can you wear a Pashmina as a hijab?
Answer: Yes, why not. If you choose to wear Hijab or head scarf, you can cover your head with the middle portion of the scarf or shawl and tie it gently near the nape. You can do so both by covering your hair or otherwise. In case of shawl, you may have to fold it due to its wider spread and length.
Question: Is their any variation in the color shade between the selected color and the actual pashmina?
Answer: We use highly advanced system of Eco-friendly dyeing and color matching. The laser printouts of the color chart are obtained and the dyeing is undertaken on the same lines. Thus, the color matching is close to perfect except for the difference of observation on different screens and because of the glare and reflection of light on the screen. Also, the color shades, particularly of ring pashminas, look strong once packed in multiple layers as compared to once spread out for use in single layer. If you want the color matching to be more precise, please send us the color sample / swatch and we will have the pashminas dyed matching the swatch(es).
Answer: We offer a number of customization options which include custom dye, with or without tassels, and gift wrap/greeting message.
Question: What is your shipping policy?
Answer: We offer free standard shipping the world over.
Question: What is your refund and returns policy?
Answer: We offer 100% refund including the return shipping expenses. For more details, please visit our Refund and Return Policy.
Question: Is pashmina suitable for formal occasions?
Answer: Pashmina shawl is suitable for all occasions and events; formal or informal, festive or otherwise.
Question: If the color of my liking is not listed, can I get one in the color of my choice, if so, how?
Answer: Yes. We are the only ones who offer pashminas in custom dye colors.
Question: What is the policy regarding cancellation of orders?
Answer: If you cancel the order prior to its shipment, 100% refund will be given. If you cancel the order after it has been shipped, please accept its delivery and return the order as per return instructions and we will give you 100% refund. However, if you refuse to accept the delivery, no refund will be given.
Question: Do you sell wholesale?
Answer: Spencer's Pashmina also deals in the wholesale pashmina market. Contact us about your requirements in terms of variety, size and quantity. We will send you a quote.
Question: What are the care instructions to keep pashmina in good shape?
Answer: Your Pashmina can last a lifetime with proper care. Pashmina should neither be machine washed nor hand washed. It should be dry cleaned. Do not wring or twist your Pashmina. To iron your pashmina, place a piece of cloth between iron and your pashmina. For stubborn stains, it is recommended to first remove the stains with some high quality stain remover before dry cleaning.
Question: How can you tell if a pashmina is real?
Answer: Avoid fake Pashminas! To know if a pashmina is real or fake, it can be found on the web. A summary of these as found valid by us is given on the page, "Real Pashmina" link at the bottom left of the page.
Question: Which area is famous for producing pashmina?
Answer: Best quality pashmina is produced in Indian Cashmere (Kashmir) and Nepal.
Question: How are pashmina scarves and shawls produced?
Answer: Outer skin of high altitude Himalayan and Tibetan mountain goats seasonally shed their outer skin, known as 'pashm' as well as pashmina wool. These goats are known as Changthangi. Pashmina wool is woven by the artisans on handlooms to produce pashmina scarves and shawls.
Question: What are the types of pashmina scarves?
Answer: Primarily, there are two types, pure pashmina and the silk blend pashmina. The former has the composition of 100% pashmina wool and the latter has a composition of 70 to 80% pure pashmina wool and 30 to 20% silk.
Question: What is the use of pashmina scarves and shawls?
Answer: These are an indispensable women’s fashion accessory which complement their style and magnificence.
Question: What is the difference between pashmina scarves & shawls, and the woolen ones?
Answer: Pashmina scarves and shawls are made from the pashm also known as pashmina wool. Pashmina wool is obtained from the outer skin of the high altitude Himalayan and Tibetan goats, 10000 feet and more above the sea level. Pashmina scarves and shawls produced are 6 to 8 times warmer than the products made from ordinary wool. The former are finer, thinner and lighter in weight than the ones made from ordinary wool.
Question: Are the scarves and shawls made from polyester, viscose, acrylic or other synthetic material and ordinary wool the same as pashmina?
Answer: No, not at all. It is unfortunate that owing to popularity of pashmina scarves and shawls, the ones made from polyester, viscose, ordinary wool and other synthetic material are also labeled as pashmina. All of these are fake and faux.
Question: What is a wedding pashmina?
Answer: Pashmina shawls and wraps have become the favorite of the brides and the bridesmaid. These are called wedding pashmina.
Question: Is a pashmina shawl a suitable gift for her or friends and family or a souvenir?
Answer: Yes. It serves as a very good gift for her, friends and family or as a souvenir. It is a complementary fashion accessory to add to the style and magnificence of the women. It keeps them comfy and cozy during cold weather and it lasts longer.
Question: What is a shawl pashmina?
Answer: Pashmina shawl is also known as shawl pashmina.
Question: I live in Europe. Do you sell your pashminas to Europe and what is the mode of payment?
Answer: We sell our pashminas the world over. Our customer base is spread all over the world, especially in the USA, Canada, Europe, Kuwait, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and South Africa. Although all prices are listed in US Dollars, we accept payments in all major currencies of the world.
Question: Why should you buy from us?
Answer: There are a number of reasons for you to buy from us. Some of those are:
- We are among the pioneers and have been selling online since 2001. Although a little expensive, we sell genuine pashminas and not the cheap and fake ones.
- Without any compromise on quality, we offer competitive prices.
- As per our Shipping Policy, the standard shipping is free the world over.
- Confident of our quality, as per our Return and Refund Policy, we offer 100% refund on returns.
- We use environmentally friendly color dyeing material.
- Reviews from our worthy customers bear testimony to the quality of our products and service.
Answer: The pashmina categories are:
- Pashmina: These are also known as Pure Pashmina or 100% Pashmina. Composed of almost 100% pashmina wool, these Pashminas come in three ply, two ply and one ply. The last ones are called Ring Pashmina. Pashminas produced in Kashmir are also known as Cashmere or Cashmere Pashmina or Pashmina Cashmere.
- Silk Pashmina: These budget friendly pashminas are composed of 70% pashmina wool and 30% silk. Some of these also come in 80% pashmina wool and 20% silk. These pashminas are also known as Pashmina Silk or Silk Blend Pashminas. Blending of silk with pashmina wool gives sheen and shine to the scarves. The silk pashminas are three ply.
- Ring Pashmina: Primarily these are pure pashminas composed of almost 100% pashmina wool. Whereas two and three ply pashminas are referred to as pashminas, one ply pashminas are called ring pashminas because these scarves can pass through a finger ring worn by the women. These are somewhat transparent and are more suitable for summers.
- Jacquard Pashmina: These are pashminas which bear self print and have a bit of glow due to a little mix of polyester.
- Embroidered: Pashmina shawls are manually embroidered by the local artisans. In some cases only the perimeters or borders are embroidered and in other cases different designs are embroidered on the entire shawl. Embroidery adds to the beauty and looks of the pashminas. However, heavy embroidery makes the wrap heavier in weight.
- Ombre: Ombre Pashmina shawls are symmetrically color dyed, either lengthwise or widthwise, in two to three colors such that either one color shade gently tapers into the other or the colors are in total contrast to one another.
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Question: Which celebrities use pashmina?
Answer: There are many celebrities who use pashmina shawls and wraps. Some of them are:
- Angelina Jolie
- Nick Jonas
- Kate Middleton.
- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
- Jennifer Aniston
- Carla Burnie
- Julia Roberts
- Emma Watsonl