Kashmiri Shawl for Weddings

Women have such different tastes. While many want to get married in the peak summer season, others love to have an autumn or winter wedding! Both have their own arguments, but what winter lovers want is the serenity and peace that the winter season brings with itself. But with winters, one has a lot to prepare. The first thing is to keep everyone warm and comfortable, especially the bride. To do so, women choose either woolen dresses or accessories. What they forget is that, apart from the comfort, the bride has to look ethereal. To do so, we have something for the winter-loving brides that will keep them super warm, comfortable, and absolutely stunning. A Kashmiri Shawl. 

Kashmiri shawls are versatile as well as exceptionally beautiful. Handcrafted from Ladakhi Cashmere, these wraps are lightweight yet immensely warm and do not let the chill of winter and fall harm your skin or confidence. One can pair Kashmiri shawls with Indian ethnic as well as western formal dresses. And since these luxury accessories are versatile, they look good with outfits, bending seamlessly with them. We too chose Kashmiri shawls for the brides as well as her friends, parents, colleagues, and as the perfect gifts given to one another on these special festivities. 

What is a Kashmiri Shawl?

Kashmiri shawls are the prized luxuries that women have revered since the 15th century. It was a Sufi saint from Persia who discovered one of the finest hair growing on Changthangi goats of Ladakh. This was Cashmere, the fine wool growing on the goat's body as an undercoat. The saint ordered collecting and processing it. It was the then king Zain ul Abideen, who supported this cause, and since then Kashmiri shawls are manufactured in Kashmir. 

Kashmiri shawls are the same as Pashmina shawls, and these two terms are used synonymously. These are handcrafted from pure Ladkahi Cashmere, which is processed manually in Kashmir. Artisans from the valley work continuously for months or even years together to craft one single Kashmiri shawl. The manual processing makes these shawls immensely warm, soft, lightweight, and special. 

Why are Kashmiri Shawls so popular?

Owing to their finesse and processing methods, Kashmiri shawls have a number of qualities. The Cashmere wool, which is processed to make these shawls, is one of the finest in the world. On spinning the wool turns into fine threads, whose diameter is just 12 to 16 microns. This is handwoven to make Kashmiri shawls, which have some special qualities. 

• Kashmiri Pashmina shawls are soft. The shaws are so fluffy and downy that a full-length shawl can pass through a finger ring. On folding too, the shawl gets compressed to the smallest of areas. 
• These shawls are smooth and do not cause allergies or itching to the skin. These are gentle for the skin, and one can wear them all winter long without the fear of itchiness or irritation. 
• Pashmina shawls of Kashmir are lightweight. A full-length shawl of 100*200 cm measurement weight under 500 grams (solid). It is hence the most recommended for travel, as it does not weigh down the traveler. 
• Kashmiri shawls are super warm. When it the raw form, Cashmere protects the goat from the harsh winter season, when the temperature goes down to minus 40 degrees C. On its transition to a shawl, it helps keep its owner warm and comfortable. 
• These luxury wraps are special. These are handmade with love and care by artisans who spend the entire day working with a shawl. Artisans consider these shawls as their most prized possessions, and give them away with a heavy heart, as the shawls, at times, spend years with them. 

Kashmiri Shawl for Weddings

A quintessential accessory for winter and fall weddings, in our opinion, is a Kashmiri shawl. Besides keeping them warm and at ease, the Kashmiri shawl enriches the looks of its owner. These shawls are graceful, elegant, colourful, and utterly beautiful. That is what they bestow on the wearer. Be it solids, printed shawls, patterned Pashmina shawls, embroidered \shawls, or the Kani shawls of Kashmir, all have their uniqueness. Based on the type of Pashmina shawl, men and women all over the world have distributed them on occasions that come their way. 

Here are the types of Kashmiri shawls, based on how they are crafted, and the occasions they are suitable for. 

Solid Kashmiri Shawls

Solid Kashmiri shawls in weddings can be worn a few days before the main event. These are plain, handwoven, luxury wraps that feature breathtaking colours and shades. Men often opt for solid shades that complement their apparel. 

Prints and Patterns

Printed Kashmiri Shawls or Patterned ones can be used as wedding favours. Your guests hold great significance when it comes to giving love and blessings to the couple. They need special treatment for being there with you. Hence, we recommend gifting them printed shawls like floral prints, abstract prints, and a few patterned shawls like striped or chequered ones. 

Laced Kashmiri Shawls

A few shawls crafted from pure Cashmere are adorned by hand-stitching laces on their borders or the centre. These look delicate, flimsy, feminine, and gorgeous. These Kashmiri shawls with laces are perfect for the bridesmaid. 

Embroidered Kashmiri Shawls

Embroidered shawls are perfect for the bride. These shawls are hand embroidered in the most intricate fashion and look absolutely ethereal. Brides can pair their wedding dresses with matching or complementing shades of hand-embroidered Kashmiri shawls and look the best version of themselves. 

Also read: HAND EMBROIDERY IN MEN'S PASHMINA STYLES

Kani Pashmina Shawls

Kani shawls are the ones that got the entire world fascinated by their unique charm and sheer elegance in the 18th century. These shawls are handwoven for years together, and the end result is simply majestic. Kani shawls can be worn by brides or the mother of the bride. These shawls add a touch of regality to one’s attire and are hence the most expensive of all. 

Whichever style you choose amongst them, make sure your Pashmina shawl is pure and authentic. It is just the original Kashmiri shawls that aggrandize your looks, and bestow warmth, coziness and the luxury feel of Pashmina to your winter looks. 

Also read: WHAT ARE THE STYLES AND DESIGNS IN PASHMINA ART?