How to identify Pure and Fake Pashmina?

Pashmina is actually Fine Cashmere . Pashmina is name given to Cashmere yarn that is 12 to 16 microns in thickness. There is no such material as Viscose Pashmina or Silk Pashmina. Please See what Wiki says about Pashmina as well and read below how some companies are ruining the perfect product like Pashmina and marketing Viscose/Acrylic scarves as PASHMINA.

In many countries (western) and even in India Pashmina shawls are sold very cheap at around 9-20$,the fact being they are not a 100% or no Pashmina at all,the scam runners brand Silk or any other cheap fabric as Cashmere and the buyer not having any Knowledge about the reality is scammed thinking that they bought themselves a Pashmina shawl,stole whatever they may be buying in the name of Pashmina..

The "100% Pashmina" Scam

There are many low quality fake scarves being sold as Pashminas in the market nowdays. Unscrupulous vendors are easily misusing Pashmina name since it is not controlled by an international trademark like "Cashmere" is. The products that say "100% Pashmina" on their label are made in unspecified countries with some synthetic material whose contents we do not know. The vendors call them wool, however we tested them and they burn like viscose. They are dyed in cheap metal colors (Pure Cashmere cannot take metal based colors) Such attempts by some companies hurt the Real Cashmere Pashmina trade and the tradesmen/tradeswomen who work very hard every year to rear the Capra Hircus goats and make the Cashmere Pashmina yarn and then weave it into fine Cashmere scarves/shawls

Signs of Pure Cashmere Pashmina

Texture and Weight:

The first tell tale sign of Pure Cashmere Pashmina is that it will be very light and very soft. It is not a shiny like silk fabric; rather Pure Pashmina is dull (although in finishing process it does get some shine but not like silk). It is not cold to touch like Viscose or silk, it gives a nice warm feel.

 Weaving:

Pure Cashmere Pashmina or its high concentration silk blends are delicate threads and cannot be woven on a power loom. The Pashmina thread is woven into wraps and scarves by handlooms by expert craftsmen. This hand weaving shows clearing near the tassels where the thread is not so closely woven. Holding a shawl to the window shows the fine weave. And you should be able easily to see through the shawl when backlit. It has a distinctive, not so close weave due to the handloom.

Cost:

A biggest tell tale sign that a Pashmina is fake is if someone is selling them in the market for cheap – e.g. 10-20 dollars. Pashmina is fine Cashmere. The Himalayan Goat sheds this wool only once a year in spring. A wrap made with Pure Pashmina will be pricy due to the worth of fine Cashmere Pashmina in it.

 Branding:

Pure Pashmina is classified as Cashmere in international Market. Wool made of goat hair that is up to 19 microns thick is classified as Cashmere by www.cashmere.org  - CCMI-Cashmere and Camel hair Manufacurers Institute. (EXTERNAL SITE LINK) Pashmina per say is not a controlled word that signifies Cashmere. Thus most reputed Pashmina sellers use labels that clearly show Cashmere % on their product. The fake Pashminas many times show on label as “100% Pashmina” and no mention of Cashmere on their content labels.

 Scientific Test:

Although Pashmina Purists use this test often to differentiate between Pure Pashmina and fake, we do not recommend you conduct this test on your Pashmina. Pashmina Cashmere is made of animal hair, so its fibers act like hair when subjected to heat or water. There are various scientific ways to test the fabric this way, and we assure you we have done all the testing necessary so you don’t have to do the same.  We do not not recommend this test on your Pashmina. Any exposure to heat or water may ruin your Pashmina and put you at risk.

 Types of Pashmina

Since Pure Pashmina is not so lustrous and quite warm, mostly it is blended with fine silk to add strength and luster. Silk also being a natural and strong fiber; lend a very nice blend with Pashmina Cashmere

 There are two kinds of blending techniques mostly used. One is Thread blend where Pashmina fibers are blended with silk thread while the yarn is spun. Other is when the wrap is woven with silk thread and Pashmina threads placed across.  Both kinds of Blending leads to a very nice wrap or scarf that looks lustrous and has Cashmere feel as well. The yarn blended Pashminas are slightly expensive due to the intensive work involved.

Pure Pashminas wool is not very colorful since goat hair is mostly mix of black, white, brown and grey. The Pashminas are carefully dyed with metal free organic colors to achieve the desired color. There are two dying methods used. One is Yarn dying wherein the Pashmina Cashmere or Blended yarn is dyed before the weaving.  In other method; the wrap is dyed as a whole after weaving. Generally yarn dying is used to produce designer Pashminas like stripes, boxes, basket weave designs etc. We  only useOrganic Metal Free AZO Friendly dyes for coloring our Pashminas. 

Pure Pashmina – made with 100% Cashmere is the softest and delicate. It is exceptionally warm and gives a luxurious feel. Silk Blended Pashmina comes in two varieties – yarn blended and woven blended. Yarn blended Silk Pashmina uses high quality of Cashmere at 80% or Higher Concentration and very little amount of silk just to give luster and rich feel. Other popular blend is 70% Cashmere and 20% silk. It is closely woven fabric that can handle common day usage slightly better than pure variety. 50% Cashmere and 50% Silk Blends lend itself to very nice Designer Pashminas.  

Jacquard Pashminas are the ones in which a design is woven in the wrap using its native threads. This kind of Pashmina needs lot of artistry and uses multiple ply (mostly two 2-Ply threads) and looks gorgeous. The design is inlaid into the Pashmina and it gives a very rich look. Jacquard Pashminas may be made of Pure cashmere or silk blend based on the label of contents. 

Print Pashminas usually are high quality 70% Cashmere and 30% silk since printing requires a closer weave fabric and some shine to look luxurious.

 If you have any questions, please feel free to send us e-mail at  yourpashminastore@gmail.com or call us at +919611568089 .