Bridal Pashmina for Wedding - A Handmade Luxury

Have you ever chosen a Pashmina for wedding functions? Or have you had a winter wedding? Did you ever attend a winter wedding? How did you dress up? Our stylists have some answers.

Winter weddings are fun. In fact, some consider a winter or fall wedding much more easy and comfortable than a summer wedding. Brides, who often complain about summer heat smudging their makeup, messing up their hairstyle, and making them bathe in sweat feel relaxed when it comes to a winter wedding. You don't need air conditioners, fans all over the wedding hall to keep you cool and your bridal look intact.

In addition to this, you can even host a small function in the garden without thinking about the scorching sun sucking the life out of every fun activity. So if you are planning to get married, choosing a date in fall or winter might not be a bad idea.

How good is a winter wedding anyway?

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when getting married in winter. Even Though the sun might not be harsh, maybe it is too weak to penetrate the grey skies. Then there is a chance that the bride, bridesmaid, and the guests would be uneasy, shivering in the cold. Or else, if everyone chooses to layer up in thick warm wraps and sweaters, they might have to give up looking their best on such a special day. But we would never want you to do that. Therefore we came up with a magical accessory straight from Paradise on earth - Kashmir.

Pashmina - a word seemingly synonymous to luxury - is the best solution to your winter wedding woes. It is smooth as silk, light weight like a feather and warm like the pleasant early summer sun. When you choose to accessorize with a wedding Pashmina, you are choosing to spend your day in utmost comfort and looking like a princess from the past. 

Bridal Pashmina Shawl for Wedding

For winter weddings, bridal Pashmina shawls are a prerequisite. Apart from keeping one immensely warm, these shawls look beyond exquisite. Pashmina shawls for weddings have become a new trend recently, ever since the art form was revived. The bride can wear it, the bridesmaids can wear it, and one can even gift it to the guests (wedding favours). 

Given the varieties one finds in wedding Pashmina, the shawls, or scarves can be worn for various occasions. If one wears a fully hand embroidered shawl for the main day of the wedding, they might wear one plain for the next day, or a minimally embroidered shawl for the next function, and so on. 

Historically, when Pashmina was almost unaffordable for common people, women purchased one wedding Pashmina shawl and kept it stored till their big day arrived. It was one big luxurious possession for the women, and hence they used to choose the best occasion for wearing it. When a bride left her maternal house, she would be covered in this coveted accessory as an auspicious takeaway. This culture is still practised in many of the households, where the mother of the bride gifts her own bridal Pashmina shawl to her daughter as the most prized gift, nostalgic of the beautiful tradition. Surprisingly, the shawls mothers give their daughters as gifts are never worn out. Infact, these over 20 years old shawls acquire an heirloom look, and look even more antique and graceful than a freshly handcrafted shawl

Why is Pashmina so warm?

Pashmina is acquired from the Capra hircus goat of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir. Here winters are so harsh that temperatures dip to -40 degrees sometimes. The goat, to protect itself from these conditions, grows a soft and exceptionally warm fleece over its throat, underbelly, and some parts of its body. This fleece is so warm that the goat survives through the winter easily. 

In summers, however, the warm fleece makes the goat uneasy. Hence it wipes its body against rough and rugged surfaces of stones, walls, bushes etc to get rid of the wool. Its herders collect this wool and comb the rest of it from the goat’s body (ethically). This wool is sent to professional cleaners who clean the wool and send it to Kashmir, where it is spun by skilled women and later handwoven by men over wooden handlooms. 

The Pashmina so acquired is feathery light owing to the fine threads it's made of. (Note that the threads of Pashmina are just 12-16 microns in diameter). They are warm because of the innate properties of Pashmina wool which is a natural fibre embodying immense warmth and luxury.

Also read: The Trail of India's Cashmere Goat Men

Luxury in the Making:

There are several reasons why Pashmina shawls are specified for special occasions. Bridal Pashmina for weddings is a ‘thing’, because the shawls deserve special attention and special days to be draped. To start with, raw material (which is Cashmere in this case), has to be manually acquired from the highest and coldest mountainous regions of Ladakh. It is quite challenging to reach the areas and purchase raw Cashmere from the herders of the Cashmere goats. Post this, the raw Cashmere is cleaned thoroughly before processing it into fibre. Cleaning takes about a week, and then comes the stages of spinning and weaving.

Spinning is mainly done by the womenfolk of Kashmir, who have been associated with this skill since centuries now. They start by separating the lumps of wool, and then carefully mounting these over spinning wheels (yinder locally). With a perfect rhythm of hands and the wheel, lumps of raw Cashmere are converted to fine fibre threads, which have a minute diameter of 12-16 microns. The threads are handed over to men. Men have the responsibility of weaving these threads to fabric. 

With the help of a traditional hand loom, one or two men start weaving fine Cashmere threads into Cashmere fabric. It takes 3 to 4 days to weave an entire Pashmina shawl of length 200 cm and breadth 100 cm. This is the making of a solid Pashmina shawl. Pashmina shawl for weddings take more time to complete. It can even take 4 or 5 years for wedding shawls to complete, as these are often laden with hand embroidery motifs, which spread all over the base. 

Wedding Pashmina (Bridal Pashmina Shawls)

Pashmina is becoming a staple for weddings, and it is totally understandable and justified. Pashmina is something that will instantly turn a plain and basic outfit into a regal one, or calm down a loud and kaleidoscopic outfit. Pashminas can be worn by brides themselves, or gifted to bridesmaids for the love they shower upon the bride and her family.

Lately, Pashminas are chosen as wedding favors and this has evolved to be a brilliant idea for weddings taking place in fall or winter. What better way to pamper your guests or thank the bridesmaid, than the ever cherished, graceful, and filled with the love of local artisans - Pashmina shawl.

Explore: Luxurious Wedding Pashmina Collection

Pashminas for Wedding Guests (Bridesmaid)

Your bridesmaid is there for you at every moment of your special day. Throughout the events, be it your engagement party to the best bachelorette celebration, you just couldn't have imagined these wonderful days without her presence. For the amazing memories she gave you, for the love she showered over you, for the support she gave you throughout your friendship , especially your wedding days, thank her with a token of love. Gift her a bridesmaid special wedding Pashmina which engulfs her in a soft and warm caress and makes your relationship stronger than ever. 

Plain Pashmina for wedding Guests (Bridesmaid)

A solid piece never goes out of style. Surprise your bridesmaid with a plain white or warm hued wedding Pashmina shawl which matches her outfit. Wrap it around her shoulders yourself and make her feel a little bit more special.

Plain Pashmina shawls or scarves are super versatile. These can be used during the wedding, as well as on casual days. These can also be worn in offices, as a plain shawl is formal and  will act as the most apt accessory when in a meeting, or a regular office day. 

With the diversity in colours, and the alluring feature of Pashmina that enables it to take up any colour, plain shawls look perfect for different occasions. White plain shawls are pretty and feminine, hence suit a bridesmaid’s apparel. Whereas, a solid black scarf would be perfect for office wear. Brighter shades would go with casual outings, while pastels would be ideal for formal and semi formal occasions.

Laced Pashmina for Wedding Guests (Bridesmaid)

A recent update of Pashmina shawls has added the beautiful French Chantilly lace to the age old pieces which make them look exquisite. A laced wedding Pashmina shawl will be perfect for your bridesmaid to keep her warm and comfy all day long in addition to adding a touch of regal to her outfit.

Even though laced Pashmina shawls seem easy to make and create, these are one of the most complicated pieces to create. The French Chantilly laces are hand stitched onto the edges of the wraps or shawls, and carefully handled after the process. At times, the laces are hand stitched in the centre of the shawls, and anywhere on the super fine base, while taking extra precaution about the finesse of the base, lest it may tear or get perforated. Nevertheless, the final piece is majestic and graceful, and looks extra dainty, perfect for admirers of feminine fashions

Embroidered Pashmina shawl for Bridesmaid

Embroidered shawls have a history of being worn by queens and women of the noble courts. Make your bridesmaid feel nothing less of a princess as you choose to gift her an intricately embroidered wedding Pashmina shawl. Shining in the charm of Tilla Dozi, or at peace with Sozni Kari donning its borders, choose a Pashmina shawl for her that makes her day special and her outfit more extravagant.

Depending upon the quantity of embroidery, Pashmina shawls can be gifted to women as well as men on several occasions. If your bridesmaid wants a super extravagant shawl like the bride, one can give her a Kani shawl, or a sozni Jamawar shawl as a gift. These shawls are brimming with embroidery motifs and patterns which are so colourful as if nature itself has casted reflections over it. So if your bridesmaid is always overdressed, you would never give her plains and prints as gifts, would you?

Reversible Pashmina for Bridesmaid

Spread the magic of a reversible Pashmina shawl over your bridesmaid’s outfit which works like a charm to add oodles of charm to her appearance. A reversible Pashmina shawl has two faces and you can wear it from either side of it. It's like the delight of two wedding Pashmina shawls in one.

Now you have the power of choosing your bridesmaid’s favourite colours and merging them into one luxury shawl. Reversible Pashmina shawl for a wedding can be a beautiful gift for your bridesmaid who can now wear two colours instead of one, and that too in the world famous Pashmina. Pick her favourite shades and watch her face beam with happiness as she receives her new gift - a handmade reversible Pashmina shawl.

Pashmina shawls as Wedding Favors

We know it's your special day and all eyes will be on you. But In this excitement, sometimes you forget to give attention to your guests without whom you wouldn’t enjoy a second of your special day. Either your gifts for them aren't as good as they expected, or they do not convey a special message to each of those who added all the fun to your joyous nuptials. We would recommend choosing Pashmina shawls or scarves as wedding favors for many reasons.

Pashmina shawls for wedding guests is the best idea one can get. Firstly, if your wedding is in fall or winter, your guests might take the help of these beautiful wedding Pashmina wraps to keep themselves warm. Secondly, a wedding Pashmina will last for a lifetime with your relatives and friends, which makes this chance for you to never let them forget your wedding day. Lastly, Pashmina for wedding guests conveys love and care as it is handmade from immensely skilled artisans from Kashmir valley. Make your guests feel remarkably special and make them experience a feeling of belongingness with you. 

Ombre Pashmina shawls as Wedding Favors

To match your modern outfits, our artisans have worked beyond capacity and come up with a traditional wedding Pashmina shawl enriched with an in vogue design where colors deepen and lighten in an ombre fashion. With more than a thousand colors that these pieces have imbibed, let guests pick their favorite colors as they lay o a table perfectly folded or rolled.

Ombre Pashmina shawls are handcrafted in a beautiful fashion, where two or more colours merge into one another. Your guests can pick  a concoction of their favourite colours, and look perfect for the occasion. Brilliant ombre shades and the luxurious touch of Pashmina make a perfect blend of extravagant accessorization.

Printed and Patterned Pashmina shawls

One more way our creative craftsmen have transformed the heritage Pashmina into a modish accessory is lending the base a chic graphical print or pattern. Abstract prints, customized designs, checks, tartans, stripes and so many other types of designs, your guests will definitely be awe struck.

Printed or patterned shawls can be easily reused by your guests for semi-formal or casual days. These shawls are considered minimal and hence can be worn at any occasion in one’s day to day life. 

Swarovski Pashmina shawls - Best Wedding Favors

Since it is a wedding event, why not add a little bling to the way all of them accessorize. We just discovered for your friends and family a collection of Pashminas which are embellished with Swarovski studs all over the base. These pieces will definitely steal some hearts and make your special day the most  memorable event of their lives as well.

Swarovski studded Pashmina are unique accessories. Many of the wearers who wear these get extra complemented for the exclusiveness of Swarovski Pashmina wraps for wedding. These add the extra bling that one needs for wedding functions. 

Bridal Pashmina Shawl for Wedding - The Bride:

For the bride, who wants to dress up in ethnic outfits, Kani shawls are the best options. A Kani shawl is the most expensive and the most intricate of all shawls as far as bridal Pashmina is concerned. The shawls take about 4 to 5 years to complete, and are hence gifted to the bride herself.

Bridal Pashmina shawl for weddings can be any of the above varieties. It is just based on the occasion and the preference. 

It was long back when Pashmina shawls were considered a prerequisite for weddings. But recently the trend has started again. Brides have reintroduced the luxury art of Pashmina, and have started to look like traditional brides. Bridal Pashmina hasn’t ever looked old fashioned and exudes the same timeless grace and elegance.