Pashmina is the finest, softest and warmest fibre available. It comes from the underbelly of the Capra Hircus Goat which lives in the remote Himalayan regions of Tibet, Mongolia, Kashmir and Central Asia. These goats grow an inner hair which insulates them during the long harsh winters of the Himalayas. This hair is used to produce Pashmina.
Washing
Ideally, Pashmina should always be dry cleaned using organic solvents. It not only removes soil and stains from the fabric; but also maintains the shape, color, look of the garment. If that isn’t an option, use cold water to hand-wash your Pashmina in a separate container/bucket/sink. You may add a mild detergent such as baby shampoo, and make sure that it fully dissolves in water before you soak your garment in it. Later wash the Pashmina accessory softly while being extra careful of the hand-woven trusses.
To dry a Pashmina scarf, hang it out in shade, away from strong wind and let it dry-out slowly. Bigger/heavier garments can be kept it in a towel and rolled in to drench extra water before drying
Dry Cleaning
Pashmina is an unusual fabric that becomes softer with each use. With good care, you not only make it gentler to use but also add to the life of the garment. The fine weaving of Chyangra goats’ wool by Kashmiri artisans is an age-old tradition that brings out the best of Pashmina. Such a cloth must always be protected with the right care. It is advisable to dry clean the garment after a season’s use to maintain its durability. Natural wool and silk dry clean beautifully, helping to return your precious Pashmina to a “like-new” condition. It also prevents loss of color, and change of texture or finish due to extensive use
Storage
- Store your Pashmina in a muslin cloth to avoid the development of lint or short fibers that separate the surface of cloth or yarn. Fold it neatly inside out in moth-proof stuff. Keep the Pashmina in a drawer or storage box with dried Azadirachta indica or Indian Lilac sachets or lavender sachets to repel moths. If you want to store your cashmere over a longer seasonal period, you can also consider getting plastic zip storage bags so that moths can’t penetrate it.
- Do not use naphthalene balls while storing the Pashmina as it can mar its beauty and give it a permanent smell.
- Keep your Pashmina at a cool, dry place. In case of contact with moisture, visit a dry cleaner to get the issue sorted.
- Aerate your cashmere articles periodically, preferably once a month to avoid moths in your exclusive Pashmina products
- Never expose your Pashmina to direct heat or extreme sunlight as it can damage the garment’s texture.
- Brush the shawl, scarf, or stole after every wear as they hoard dust easily.
- Many Pashmina accessories get passed on from one generation to another. To ensure yours does that too, allow the garment to go through professional restoration after every few years to maintain its newness.
- Never hang a Pashmina in the closet as it can cause the fabric to stretch and lose its shape. Instead, always fold and stack it neatly to keep the material crisp.
- In case your Pashmina develops a thread snag that is running across the fabric, take your fingernail and rub across the threads, kind of like you are scratching something. Of course, don’t make it too rough because you will make it worse. Just follow the link of that thread all the way to the end and clip it.
Taking care of your Pashmina is this simple. All you need to do is give it some attention while storing and washing, and the garment will remain fresh for the years to come.