The Kashmir Weaver · The Craft
Every Thread,
By Hand
Over 20 hand processes separate a genuine Pashmina from an imitation — from fibre to finished shawl, zero machines touch the work.
The Craft
The Art of Pashmina
“Twenty ancient processes transform Himalayan fleece into the world’s most treasured cashmere fabric.”
12–16μm
Fibre Fineness
4,500m
Altitude of Origin
20+
Hand Processes
3–18mo
Per Shawl
The Source
At 4,500 metres on the Changthang plateau of Ladakh, nomadic herders tend the Changthangi goat. Each spring, the goat sheds its ultra-fine undercoat — the raw Pashm that becomes Pashmina.
Pashm
The Fibre
The undercoat is hand-combed — never sheared — and dehaired to separate 12–16 micron fibres from coarser guard hairs. Each goat yields only 80–170 grams per year.
Ranger
The Colour
The master dyer (Ranger) transforms raw pashm into over 50 vibrant, azo-free colours. Each shade is mixed by hand — no two dyers produce the exact same hue.
Yarun
The Warp
Over 1,200 warp threads are laid across the frame — a process requiring up to 12 kilometres of walking back and forth. The warp is the skeleton of every shawl.
Bharangur · Saaz
Dressing the Loom
The Bharangur threads each warp yarn through the heddles and reed of the wooden Saaz. A single error can cascade through the entire weave.
Prech
The Yarn
Weft yarn is wound onto small wooden Prech spindles. For Kani weaving, dozens of tiny bobbins are prepared — one for each colour in the pattern.
Wovur · Wonun
The Weaving
The Wovur sits at the Saaz, hands throwing the shuttle, feet pressing the treadles — like a pianist. A plain stole takes 3–4 days. A Kani shawl takes 12–18 months.
Chapangur
The Finishing
The woven shawl is washed in spring water, struck against smooth river stones for softness. The Chapangur stretches and dries it on a wooden frame.
Voste
The Final Touch
The Voste examines every inch for flaws. Fringes are hand-knotted. If destined for embroidery, the Naqash draws the design and the Rafugar begins months of needlework.
The weaver works like a pianist — simultaneously controlling foot pedals and hand shuttles, reading the pattern from memory.
Watch the Full Process
From raw Changthangi fleece to finished Pashmina — every hand process captured in a single film.
The Collections
Discover every piece
Explore our complete range of hand-woven Kashmiri pashmina, each crafted by a single master artisan.
Explore Collections