Pashmina begins at 13,000 feet, where the changthangi goat grows a fleece of extraordinary fineness to survive the Himalayan winter. The wool is gathered at spring moult, sorted by hand, and spun into yarn so fine that a single shawl can take a skilled artisan months of eight-hour days.
The weaving happens in Srinagar and the surrounding villages, on handlooms whose rhythms have changed little since the Mughal era. What follows is soot-free washing in springs, delicate embroidery in `sozni`, and a final finish that makes the fabric feel like air.
Authenticity matters profoundly in pashmina — mislabelled machine blends flood the market. Viraasat sources only from verified looms, and every piece is documented with its GI certification and the name of the family who wove it.
Stories like this are only possible when craft is valued — by you.
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