From ceremonial shawls to heritage handlooms: Tracing the legacy of Kashmir’s ‘soft gold,’ Pashmina
When it comes to layering up for the seasonal chill, woollen clothes are the go-to option. However, if you’re looking to infuse luxury into your winter wardrobe, Pashmina stands out as an iconic choice. Known as “soft gold,” this textile has been synonymous with luxury and prestige since the Mughal era. In this installment of our series Indian Textiles 101, we explore the rich history and origins of this soft-spun material known for its unique thermal properties.Kirti Deshpande, design professor, School of Design, MIT-WPU, Pune, said that Pashmina is a legacy textile made from a special type of wool sourced primarily from Ladakh in northern India. According to her, the term “pashmina” is derived from the Persian word pashm, meaning soft wool. Pashmina wool is derived from the undercoat of ...