Description
The Shahmina (and Pashmina, wool from adult Cashmere goats) shawl and stole have been worn by royalty and noble folk since the 3rd century BC. Shahmina (Persian for “emperor’s wool”) refers to shawls made of baby Cashmere goat’s wool. The fleece is not shorn off. Instead, the kid’s first shed undercoat is collected by combing. It is then used for spinning and weaving the incredibly light weight and silky soft garments. As practitioners of Kundalini yoga, a Royal Yoga, Kundalini yogis and yoginis have traditionally favoured this ultra-fine material for their wraps and shawls.
These Shahmina shawls are made with the fine down fibres of the goat’s undercoat. This is why shamina has to be hand-processed and woven into the end products. Therefore, the quality of the finished garment is dependent upon the skill level of the artisans. The expert craftsmanship and the rarity of the wool are the reasons for the relatively high cost. Hence these luxurious items are often acquired as gifts, or at least as treasured ‘forever’ items.
Each wrap weighs just 70g. That is how much soft undercoat one baby goat produces in its first year of life. The combing takes place in spring, and the undercoat regrows in winter. The incredible warmth factors stems from the high altitude super-low winter temperatures of the Tibetan plateaus where these goats and their nomadic keepers live.
These beautiful authentic wraps are made of 100% pure shahmina. There is absolutely no viscose content. The size is a generous 208cm x 76cm.
Dry cleaning is recommended.
