Shawls as we all know are a popular women wear. They had been used by women, as a clothing item for decades. A very special kind of shawl wore by women is Pashmina Shawl. These shawls are not only good looking, but they have a unique quality of protecting the wearer from cold. Pashmina Shawls are very light weight in comparison to the warmth they provide. Women admire them not only for their quality of providing warmth but largely due to their style and elegance. They are said to enhance the beauty of women even more.

The word pashmina is derived from the Persian word 'pashm' which means 'wool'. An authentic Pashmina Shawl, famous for its warmth and softness, is hand loomed from a very special kind of wool. This wool comes from the flossy fleece of the Himalayan goat named, capra hircus. This fleece is collected from the goat by carefully combing it, just before it molts. Kashmir, also known as the heaven on earth, is the place where the Pashmina Shawls are woven and embroidered. There is a historical relationship between the Pashmina Shawls and Kashmir.

The cashmere wool, from which the Pashmina Shawls are made, is said to be originated from Kashmir itself. The 15^th century ruler of Kashmir, Zayn-ul-Abidin, founded the cashmere wool industry. Since then, manufacturing of Pashmina Shawl had became a traditional profession of many families in Kashmir.

Pashmina Shawls have undergone a great change since their invention. Today's shawls are much beautiful, light weight and warm than the previous one. Today these are being widely used not only in India but abroad. They are also a source of foreign exchange earning for the government. Pashmina Shawls are such a wonderful item of clothing of women, that their popularity will not diminish, rather it will boost for the times to come.