Learm about the complex process invloved in weaving a pattern on a Cashmere textile, using Kashmir's unique "Kani" weaaving technique

The cashmere avaiable in the market, including the luxury cashmere sold at high-end stores is mass produced  on machines. And it  is just a commercal product without any  history or legacy. Our Cashmere comes from the original source of Cashmere and has a history and legacy of a royal textile. And it is certificed (GI tagged( by the government of India, as hand-processed and hand-woven on a handloom, usng tradtional methods that have been refined over centuries. This makes each product unique and imparts it a lightness, softness, warmth and durabliity that cannot be replicated on a machine. 

And unlike luxury, high-end Cashmere from internationl businesses, we openly display the finess of our Cashmere, (expressed as microns) in every textile we create. 

We create fair-wage based and creatively infused heirlooms, not just products. And our business represents the culmination of a 20-year journey, not merely a commerical enterprise. 

Also, we do not follow the traditional, Kashmiri business model where businesses acquire ready-made products from craftspeople and/or middlemen and have no involement in the creative or production processes. Even when there are exceptions, as in the case of reputable business houses with international prescence, the owners' involvement in the creative process is limited to deciding the color palette or a copy-paste of antique designs from books or the internet, often described as a 'revival'. 

Our products begin with an original idea and a storied theme, When we do use existing patterns from Kashmir's tradional block makers or kani woven patterns already avaiable in the Kashmiri market, we chose our own color palette and design placement. And we openly acknowledge the design source, as in our "Curated Marketplace' collection. Futher, we stay fully engaged in the entire production process and ensure that the product meets our established standards of quality and purity. 

The final verdict lies with our patrons - as we continue to learn and grow !

A Gi (Geographical Identification) tag is a QR code based, non-removable label, that is permanently stamped on the Cashmere textile by the Government of India, after the textile is scientifically tested and analyzed. It was started to combat the influx of fake Cashmere sold as 'genunie, hand-woeven Cashmere' from Kashmir. 

No. There are two types of GI tags.

The highest level of GI tag certifies that the textile is 100% Cashmere, is made from hand-spun (not machine made yarn) and it is hand-woven. It also lists the micron count (fineness). This is the tag our products have. 

The second, lower-level tag is intended to confirm that the embroidery or pattern woeven on the textile is done by hand and the textile is Cashmere. made from machine made yarn on a powerloom or handloom. 

And then there are fake GI tags that businesses either create on their own pass them off as goverment issued. 

Our products have the highest possible level of GI tags or certificates. They certify that the textile is: 

1. 100% Cashmere

2. Less than 15 microns 

3, Made from 100% hand-spun Cashmere yarn

4, Hand-woven on a handloom

A key measures of fineness of Cashmere fiber, like any other fibers is the diameter of the fiber and expressed as 'microns'. A micron is one-thousandth of a Millimeter or  0.00003937 inches thick. The lower the micron count, the higher the quality of fiber. In International trade terms Cashmere has to be equal to or less than 19 microns. Our Cashmere is between 14 and 15 microns in diameter. 

Although, there is no trade or official definition, but Cashmere between 14 and 15 microns is considered as 'premium' or 'luxury'. 

Answer coming soon

We only use two types of dyes

- Natural dyes: These dyes are derived from natural, organic sources and do not contain any synthetic compounds. Some of the dye sources are madder, safflower, indigo, cochineal and logwood. 

-AZO free dyes:  These dyes do not contain AZO chemicals, which have been known to cause skin irritation and skin conditions and worse yet, be a carcenogen, when they break down. This is the reason that in Europe, AZO dyes are banned in all textiles. 

Even with natural dyes, we use Alum (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate) as a mordant. This is necessary to ensure that  color adheres, becomes insoluble, and achieves high wash- and light-fastness.  coming soon

AZO-free dyes are dyes that do not contain AZO chemicals.   

Very simple. Ask the seller if the product has a GI (Geographical Identification) tag from the Government of India,  that certifies the product is-

1) 100% Pure Cashmere

2) Less than 15 microns

3) Hand spun (yarn)

4) Hand woven

Some unscrupuous sellers have created their own fake GI tags but you can easily verify that by emailing the agency in Kashmir, India, that issues the tags to confirm if the certifcation is genuine or fake. 

Historically there was no difference between the two. 

Cashmere is the name given to the downy, undercoat of the Cashmere goat. 

Pashmina, which means "of/from Wool" in Farsi and is the common name of the fiber in the Indian subcontient. 

However, lately, "Pashmina" has been co-opted to mean, low cost, liightweight scarves, usually with a paisley pattern. They have nothing to do with Cashmere or Pashmina fiber and are usually made of a synthetic fiber.