Research Handbook

The Kashmir WeaverResearch Handbook

Volume I – Foundations of Authentic Pashmina

An in-depth research-based exploration of authentic Kashmiri pashmina — the fibre, its journey from the high Himalayas to the loom, the artisans who guard its traditions, and the knowledge that separates the genuine from the imitation.

Draft Research Edition 0.5 · 11 parts · 58 sections · 34,879 words

Contents

The Book

Preface→

Part I

Origins

Ch. 1What is Pashmina?→Ch. 2The Geography of Pashmina→Ch. 3The Changthangi Goat→Ch. 4The Science of Pashmina→Ch. 5Why Kashmir?→

Part II

The Historical Journey

Ch. 6The Historical Journey of Pashmina→Ch. 7The Rivers, Roads and Caravans of Pashmina→Ch. 8Pashmina and the Royal Courts→Ch. 9A Timeline of Pashmina→Ch. 10When Kashmir Changed World Fashion→

Part III

The Craft

Ch. 11The Journey from Fibre to Shawl→Ch. 12Hand Weaving→Ch. 13Kani Weaving→Ch. 14Sozni Embroidery→Ch. 15The Journey of a Shawl→Ch. 16Kani Shawls→Ch. 17Sozni Embroidery→

Part IV

The People

Ch. 18The People Behind the Shawl→Ch. 19Pashmina in the Culture of Kashmir→Ch. 20The Artisan’s Mind→Ch. 21The Unsung Masters→

Part V

Art, Motifs & Philosophy

Ch. 22The Philosophy of Luxury→Ch. 23The Language of Motifs→Ch. 24The Colours of Kashmir→

Part VI

The Collector's Guide

Ch. 25Authenticity and Geographical Indication (GI)→Ch. 26The Pashmina Certification Centre→Ch. 27How to Identify Authentic Pashmina→Ch. 28Caring for a Pashmina Shawl→Ch. 29Museums, Collectors, and Heirlooms→Ch. 30Recognising Excellence→Ch. 31Preserving a Living Heritage→Ch. 32Legendary Shawls That Changed History→Ch. 33The Great Museums and Their Kashmiri Collections→Ch. 34Building a Collector’s Eye→Ch. 35Caring for a Pashmina→

Part VII

The Future of Pashmina

Ch. 36The Future of Pashmina→Ch. 37Pashmina in the Twenty-First Century→Ch. 38Epilogue→

Reference

Glossary & Sources

Ch. 39The Complete Glossary of Pashmina→Ch. 40Research Sources and Annotated Bibliography→

Part IX

The Masters of Kashmir

The Masters of Kashmir→

Part X

The Soul of Kashmir

The Soul of Kashmir→Ch. 41A Winter in Changthang→Ch. 42Spring and the Gift of Fibre→Ch. 43The Journey to Kashmir→Ch. 44Preparing the Fibre→Ch. 45The Spinner’s Wheel→Ch. 46The Loom→Ch. 47Decoration→Ch. 48Finishing→Ch. 49Across Continents→Ch. 50A New Story Begins→

Back Matter

Acknowledgements & Appendices

Acknowledgements→App. AA Chronological History of Kashmiri Pashmina→App. BMasterpieces in World Museums→App. CThe Great Trade Routes of Pashmina→App. DHow to Identify an Authentic Kashmiri Pashmina→