Sunday, October 24. 1999 - North Shore News - #9

north shore news

OR

The rarest of cashmere

Layne Christensen
Fashion Editor :layne@nsnews.com _

-. FOR more than 1,000 years, cashmere has been woven into shawis and
blankets, prized by royalty and commoner alike for its incredible softness,
warmth and long life. -- .

: I's only int the past year, however, that the word “pashmina” has entered the lexicon of
today’s. fashion follower. -
” ¢. As ubiquitous this season as the knee-high boot, the stretch wool suit and the courier bag,
the pashmina shaw! has found its way into che wardrabe of the stylish set.

. In fashion circles, “the pashmina” has become synonymous to the cashmere shawl. In real-
ity, not all ‘cashmere is pashmina.. .
‘ -Cashmere. is wool from, the coat of. the
Himalayan mountain “goat.” Pashmina comes

- from the Persian word for wool. oo,

‘True pashmina is the finest and rarest form of

= ¢ashmere — combed from the underbelly and
necks of the Himalayan mountain goat. It is of

such fine wool that five hairs of “pasham” are the

equivalent in weight of one human hair.

See Sham! page 20

THE pashmina appears in an
1811 portrait by French painter
eS Fiouget (right).

Where

PASHMINA, the “golden fleece,” has a fabled history.

In the story Arabian Nights, Aladdin was enamoured with the beautiful daughter of the
moghul emperor, who required all of her suitors to accomplish near-impossible tasks to win her
hand. One task was to bring back a black rose, another to retrieve a “tying” horse. Yet anoth-
er was to climb the highest mountain and bring back the thinnest, rarest wool wrap. This was
the pashmina.

For many centuries Kashmir was the only place the fibre could be woven into shawis, accord-
ing to treaties-that gave the maharaja of Kasmir exclusive rights to Tibet's pashmina supply.
we most of the world’s pashmina shawls are woven on handlooms in Nepal's Kathmandu
Valley.

While a true “pashmina” can cost several hundred thousand dollars. Shawls loomed from a
lower grade cashmere or made from a cashmere blend are, of course, more affordably priced.
Where to find it:

Ԥ FASHION

NEWS photo Brad Ledtwictge

A true “peshmina” is a blend of fine cashmere and sith. Moulé’s pashmina is
loomed in Nepat with fibres richly coloured by the finest dyes from Swedery.

to buy pashmina shawls

Banana Republic: At a bargain price of $150, it's not likely thar this American chain store's
cashmere-silk wrap is the genuine thing. But with a price like that, who can complain? Available
in azalea, seafoam, wheat, orchid and black. .

recognizes it immediately.” A blend of cashmere and silk, it is available in
. si y, deep purple, black and burgundy for $395.
& Margareta: The Bellevue Avenue boutique has a wrap that is a wool-cashmere blend, avaii-
able in grey, black, camel or loden green with more colours by special order. Some styles are.
double-sided with a pattern (leopard, fer example) on the reverse. Priced from $295 to $395.
@ Holt Renfrew: Canada’s national upscaie retail store also sells a “pashmina” priced at $395.’
Available in ivory, light purple, grey, electric blue, fuchsia, garnet, chocolate and black.
—~ Layne Christensen