This BlackCamel Kani Check pattern Sozni Embroidered Pashmina Shawl is crafted from high-quality cashmere, sourced from the neck and abdomen of Changthangi goats. These goats inhabit altitudes between 3,600 and 4,500 meters. The Kani diamond pattern is meticulously hand-woven by skilled artisans in Kashmir. The shawl is made from a material as thin as a cicada's wing, allowing it to easily pass through a ring. This is why it is sometimes referred to as "ring velvet." The finer the velvet, the more challenging it is to weave. This luxurious material not only feels smooth and skin-friendly but also has exceptional warmth retention. The entire process—from collecting the hand-twisted wool yarn to Kani weaving the diamond patterns and finally adding Sozni embroidery—takes years of skilled craftsmanship, making each shawl extremely precious and rare. The creativity of the artisans results in a unique combination of colors and embroidery in each piece. The exceptional skills of these craftsmen have created luxurious embroidered cashmere shawls, making them favorites among celebrities. This exquisite work represents a century-old tradition and is truly a collectible treasure.
Hand-woven Kani shawls have been crafted for centuries and are entirely handmade. Artisans work 5 to 7 hours a day, weaving only a small section, approximately 2.5 cm, at a time. A full-sized Kani shawl measuring 100x200 cm can take up to a year to complete, which adds to its rarity. The warm touch of these shawls cannot be replicated by machines, enhancing the charm of handcrafted items. Such exquisite craftsmanship is found only in Pashmina. The combination of hand-woven Kani shawls with Sozni embroidery, often regarded as the pinnacle of Indian embroidery, makes them valuable collector's pieces.
Sozni embroidery holds a prestigious place among embroidery techniques. Known as "Soni" (meaning needlework in Urdu, India), this form of embroidery has been refined by Kashmiri artisans for over 500 years. The delicacy of the artwork lends the final fabric a tapestry-like appearance, resembling a painting. Remarkably, all Sozni embroidery is done by hand, with no machines involved. This unparalleled needlework is exclusively performed by artisans in Kashmir, India.
The design of Sozni embroidery can be simple, running along the edges of the fabric, or intricate, enhancing the entire piece. The complexity of the design affects the time required for completion. For instance, a simpler design featuring a 1-inch embroidery panel along all four borders of a shawl may take up to two months to finish, while more complex, fully embroidered designs can take up to six years.
Kashmiri Pashmina Gallery is a brand based in Srinagar, Kashmir, North India. For those born and raised in Kashmir, Pashmina represents more than just a product—it embodies a centuries-old heritage of exquisite local craftsmanship and cultural legacy dating back to the 15th century. In the 15th century, Persian saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani came to Kashmir to share his knowledge with local artisans, training 700 craftsmen, including those skilled in Pashmina weaving. The tradition of handmade Pashmina embroidery has been passed down through generations and requires at least six months for master craftspeople to complete each piece. Each work reflects extraordinary embroidery skills, patience, concentration, and dedication, rooted in the centuries-old craftsmanship and cultural heritage of the Kashmir region.
While China, Nepal, and other areas also raise goats of the same breed, they lack the weaving and embroidery expertise that has been inherited through generations in Kashmir. Historical documents from the 16th century indicate that although precious Tibetan antelopes primarily lived in Hoh Xil, Tibet, they were occasionally sent to Kashmir to be transformed into Shahtoosh, as only Kashmiri weavers knew how to weave this exceptionally soft material into fabric.
Pashmina wool is derived from Changthangi goats that thrive in the Himalayan mountains at altitudes between 3,600 and 4,500 meters. To withstand the cold, these goats grow a layer of soft wool during late autumn, enhancing their warmth. This wool is considered the finest among animal fibres, renowned for its excellent insulation properties, and is often referred to as "soft gold" due to its luxurious texture, sheen, and elasticity.
After experiencing a genuine Pashmina scarf, I was captivated by its unparalleled softness and delicacy, which makes cashmere feel coarse in comparison. Cashmere is sourced from regular goats, while Pashmina is exclusively made from the undercoat of Changthangi goats living at high altitudes. This exquisite fabric has attracted the attention of Indian royal families and nobility for centuries.
**Product Details:**
- Suitable for all seasons—spring, autumn, winter, and even summer in air-conditioned spaces.
- Product ID: KE/BC-0659
- Measurements: Width: 100 cm, Length: 200 cm
- Composition: 100% Pashmina