KASHMIR PASHMINA

Pashmina is a fine type of Kashmiri wool. The textiles made from it were first woven in Kashmir. The name comes from Persian: pašmina, meaning "made from wool" and literally translates to "Soft Gold" in Kashmiri. Pashmina came to be known as 'cashmere' in the West because Europeans first encountered this fiber in Kashmir. Goats used for Pashmina shed their winter coat every spring. One goat sheds approximately 80–170 grams (3–6 ounces) of the fiber. Kashmiri artisans, who perfected the art of making handmade Pashmina for years, have exclusive rights over the Kashmir Pashmina brand, with the central government declaring it as Geographical Indication (GI), an intellectual property right.