What is pashmina?

Pashmina: It is a kind of fine, soft wool from Asia. Its a fine wool similar to cashmere made from the undercoat of domestic Himalayan goats; also: a shawl made from this wool. The wool comes from four distinct breeds of the Cashmere goat; namely the Changthangi or Kashmir Pashmina goat from the Changthang plateau in Kashmir region, the Malra from Kargil area in Kashmir region, the Chegu from Himachal Pradesh in northern India, and Chyangara or Nepalese Pashmina goat from Nepal. Pashmina shawls are hand spun, and woven in Kashmir and Nepal, and made from fine cashmere fibre.

The popular belief pertaining to the history of Pashmina as is with the other handicrafts of Kashmir, is the influence of Persian art that was introduced into Kashmir by the Muslim Scholar Shah-e-Hamdan who came to Kashmir in the 14th century with some of his followers that included shawl makers, carpet weavers, artists and calligraphers. Kani Shawls were first made in Kashmir some 600 years ago and the popularity grew in the era of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He is said to have gifted a handmade Kani Jamawar to the Queen of England.