The term "pashmina" has become a buzzword for all kinds of textiles. Anyone walking through German city centers or browsing the internet today will find countless scarves and shawls advertised as pashminas. Those expecting high-quality goods are often disappointed: in many cases, the term pashmina is used to describe second- or third-rate products. This gives us reason to revisit the origin of the term and its true meaning .

Origin and meaning of the word "Pashmina"
The term "pashmina" generally refers to a thin shawl made either from pure cashmere or from a blend of cashmere and silk . The name derives from the Persian root "pashm," meaning "wool." In northern India and Nepal, the term "pashmina" refers to the most famous luxury fiber in the region: cashmere wool. Therefore, pashmina simply means "product made from cashmere wool."

It is impossible to trace exactly when and how the term "pashmina" spread from Asia to the rest of the world. While Indian and Nepalese cashmere was already very popular with European nobility and rising industrial families in the 19th century, and it cannot be ruled out that the term was already being used in Europe at that time, there is no concrete evidence to support this. The term only became popular in the mid-1990s, when pashminas became a sought-after accessory in haute couture and appeared in European and North American fashion magazines.

The wool of the Pashmina scarf
A scarf or shawl is only considered a "pashmina" if it is made of cashmere or a blend of cashmere and silk. What characterizes these materials? Cashmere goat wool is distinguished by its exceptional fiber length, fineness, and smoothness . The advantages of these qualities are obvious: a long fiber (also called staple length) gives the yarn greater strength . The fineness (meaning the small diameter) of the hairs and their smoothness make cashmere wool more supple and softer than other types of wool with comparable fiber length, such as sheep's wool. But not all cashmere is created equal. Only carefully selected varieties guarantee superior comfort and a long product lifespan. We have our cashmere products regularly examined in a globally recognized laboratory using an electron microscope to ensure the highest possible purity and quality of the fabric.

Have you often come across a mythical creature called the Pashmina goat online? Indeed, some retailers still perpetuate the rumor that Pashmina scarves are made from the wool of a special goat, sometimes called the Chyangra goat. This claim is completely fabricated: Chyangra goat wool is unsuitable for textile processing and, quite understandably, is not used to make Pashmina scarves.