How to Spot Fake Pashmina: Essential Tips for Identifying Genuine Shawls

Why is Pashmina Rare?

✰ Source: Made from the undercoat of the Chyangra goat, which thrives in the Himalayan severe conditions, Pashmina is Perfect for premium fabric, the undercoat is soft and delicate.

✰ Limited Productions: Goats only provide a little amount of cashmere wool each year, ranging from 145 to 150 grams. As, this makes the manufacturing process labor-intensive and time-consuming because it takes the wool from many goats to make a single shawl or sweater.

✰ Seasonal Collection: Another factor reducing Pashmina’s availability is the fact that the raw wool is only harvested in the summer and spring.

✰ Handcrafted Quality: The majority of Pashmina goods are hand-knitted or woven, require for skilled artisans and large time commitment, therefore adding to their general expense and limited resources.

Beware of Fake Pashminas

Known for its luxury and softness, Pashmina is the product of meticulous craftsmanship and natural materials. But as Pashminas become more and more popular, the market has seen an increase of fake variations that would readily fool blind customers. Though it’s equally crucial to realize that copied variations are common and can fool you into paying a high price for an inferior product. So, one has to understand the efforts that go into producing 100% Pashmina is crucial.

One has to understand the work involved in creating 100% real Pashmina.

Countries such as the US, UK, Finland, Australia, and other European countries are becoming victims of fake Pashminas. Unaware of the clues to genuineness, several customers might unintentionally buy fakes products believing they are getting real Pashmina.

But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.

Identifying Genuine Pashmina

It is crucial to be able to tell genuine Pashmina from fakes, especially with a growing number of fake goods on the market. These are a few effective tests:

✰ Burn Test: Burn one thread from your Pashmina single-threadlike. Real Pashmina becomes powdered ash and smells like burned hair. It’s probably fake if it dissolves or smells like plastic.

✰ Rubbing Test: Rub the fabric with its own fibers. The presence of sparks is an indication of synthetic fibers, leaving the Pashmina genuinely fake. No real Pashmina should ever cause a static electricity.

✰ Shine Test: Genuine Pashmina does not shine; its outer layer is matte. Your Pashmina is probably synthetic copy if it shines brightly or sparkles.

✰ Pilling Test: Genuine Pashmina’s inherent fibers may cause it to pill somewhat. Lack of piling at all might point to a synthetic substance.

✰ Diameter Test: While Cashmere can be thicker, Pashmina fibers usually range in diameter from 12 to 16 microns. A high-quality Pashmina relates with a more refined fiber.