Pashmina shawls and stoles are expensive. A basic shawl with no design or embroidery costs about Rupees 20,000. The more expensive ones are priced in lakhs of rupees. As a lot of money is involved, the customers have to be careful when making a decision to buy. They need some assurance that they are not being cheated and buying an Authentic Pashmina shawl. While the design and quality of weaving are important considerations, the purity of the fibre used to make the shawl and stoles is the most important factor in making a choice.
The Problem: Fake Pashmina Being Sold in the Market
One of the biggest problems consumers face when trying to purchase a best pashmina shawl is the number of products being sold in today’s marketplace that are referred to as “pashmina” but actually consist of blended fibres or are even made entirely from synthetic fibres. Due to the misuse of the term, buyers are often confused about what a genuine pashmina shawl is and cannot distinguish between an Original Pashmina Shawl and a fake. Unfortunately, without some basic knowledge about what constitutes an original pashmina shawl and how to identify one, it can be very easy for people purchasing pashmina shawls without having knowledge of the market or product to unknowingly spend money on a product that, even though it may look like it is a genuine product, will not have the quality and authenticity of an original pashmina shawl.
Common Myths About Identifying Authentic Pashmina
While there are numerous methods available online, two specific techniques claim to identify authentic Pashmina. These methods are—
Ring test-
A shawl made from pure Pashmina will pass comfortably through a ring. However, this test proves nothing. The fact is that even machine-made fabrics such as viscose will easily pass through a ring. Genuine. On the other hand, shawls hand-woven from handspun pashmina from Ladakh tend to be slightly thicker than those made by machine, and unlikely to pass the ring test. through a ring hole. In short, do not trust the Ring Test. It does not tell you anything.
Burn test.
In this test, a small sample of the fibre is burnt to determine whether it produces a smell similar to that of burning human hair. If so, this indicates that the item was made from a natural fibre; however, it does not confirm that the item in question is an authentic Pashmina wool shawl. Many other animal fibres, such as sheep wool and silk, also produce a similar smell when burnt. Therefore, the burn test does not tell you whether you are purchasing an authentic Pashmina shawl. It could be made from another natural fibre.
The Only Trustworthy Way:
There is only one sure way to verify the authenticity of an original pashmina shawl. This is by testing the fibre using scientific techniques. A scientific test uses specialised microscopes and advanced equipment to determine whether the fibre is truly a pashmina fibre or other materials such as sheep wool, silk, or synthetic fibres. Scientific testing, unlike visual checks or other tests, provides conclusive, objective evidence that your purchase is a genuine pashmina.
Certification of genuine Pashmina Shawls through Pashmina Certification Centre (PCC).
At Himalayan Weavers, all our shawls are certified by the Pashmina Certification Centre (PCC) at the Wildlife Institute, Government of India. Created in 2023, PCC is India’s only facility dedicated to scientifically testing whether Pashmina products are genuine. Each certified shawl is provided with a traceable bar code. Purchasing a shawl with a PCC certificate gives you complete confidence that your authentic pashmina shawl has been thoroughly tested and meets the strict specifications of purity.
Our Commitment to Authentic Pashmina
At Himalayan Weavers, we are dedicated to providing only authentic products to our customers. Each genuine pashmina shawl is made with the finest pashmina fibre sourced from the Changpa nomads of Ladakh. Each shawl is dyed using only natural colours that meet our high standards for quality and sustainability. When buying from us, you can be sure you are getting a shawl made from the best pashmina available on the market.
