Having a genuine pashmina is a dream of all men and women across all borders, ages, ethnicities, cultures. For over a sustained duration, the rare workmanship, weaving and hand spinning of artists have exhibited a sign of elegance in making it rare. The magic of pure and resplendent pashmina has become a style statement and interpretation of classy for elite women. They marked their presence in closets of locals to the wealthiest people of the world. One of the most considerable doubts that came across would be ”Is it genuine or Fake and how to tell it? 

This attention is valid since many wealthy and robust mill owners have overtaken the dexterous artistry of artists to make machine-made lookalikes. These imitations look precisely like the real ones. But still, salt looks like sugar; it is not sugar. And only the ones who identify the contrast between the two are the true gainers. Now when it comes to sugar and salt, it is simple to tell the difference. Recognising a fake item is not that simple.

We are going to make this uncomplicated for you.

Test to identify the authenticity of real Pashmina?

The burn test: 

Well, we do realise that you would not want to destroy the shawl. But choosing up one strand from the edges would not ruin the cloth and is adequate for the burn test. All you have to perform is use the thread, place it on a plate, and burn it. Smell the odour of the burnt cloth and check the ashes thoroughly with your fingertips. It is likely to be authentic if you get a burnt hair smell, and ash turns out to be like a powdery substance. 

Pashmina is made from natural hair, so burning the same should give a burnt hair smell. Another thing to note is that an authentic material feels matte despite the burning, quite similar to before burning. 

If it seems like viscose, identify it as a fake product. This analysis is practised by many vendors to verify the authenticity of Pashmina Shawls. As suggested above, even the burnt Pashmina wool feels like a matte. Matte characteristic of authentic pashmina. Though a bit of sheen is reasonable in pashmina, they mainly carry a matte look. If there is a lot of shine on the fabric, you can put the shawl back on the counter.

The actual details lie in pashmina diameter.

Hard to accept? We accept but believe us when we say that the diameter aspects of a Pashmina are a reliable sign of its authenticity. The excellent qualities stay between 14 to 16.3 microns. Do not spend your money on anything above 19 microns. When it comes to a more trustworthy quality of pashmina, the lower the micron number, the lighter, softer and better the product will be.

The pattern/weaves in Pashmina

If you thoroughly examine the weave against the light, you can see an uneven weave. Pure pashmina is spun on a handloom and, therefore it will constantly have an irregular weave. These irregularities are a sign of genuine natural Pashmina products.

The rubbing test

Rubbing the fabric might seem a little different. Still, if you know the basics of rubbing, you can do this analysis to determine if the shawl is really made of animal fibre or not. Acrylic or polyester fibre accumulate static charge within. Rubbing a fibre or polyester material would form tiny sparks. If the shawl you are testing produces little sparks upon rubbing, then it is not real. You will also notice that small dust and objects are attracted to it.

Glue fixes everything. Doesn’t it?

Well, it can also clear your doubt about fake or real pashmina products. If you see a tag or label glued, do not waste your time or money on it because it is fake. One can never attach such a thing to a Real Pashmina with glue. This is because glue can’t take the tag or label for long. Hence, you need to suture the tags on the real one.

Wiggle test on the pashmina.

Put the shawl between your thumb & index finger and wiggle it with your fingers. Do you see a wiggly trace? If yes, then the stole or shawl you are viewing as acrylic.

Not everything that shines is beautiful.

The same thing applies to authentic pashmina; they are matte in nature. It doesn’t have its own shine unless blended with shiny materials like silk fabric, making it a fake product.

Pashmina Microscopic test

Using transmitted light below a microscope, authentic pashmina shows block-shaped patterns connected nearby. If the fibre looks like a simple shape placed at an extended distance, it is certainly not genuine.

Dimensions are fairly important.

The standard dimension for an authentic pashmina shawl is 36/80 inches. But ours is a bit wider than the standard stole size.

 Following are the size we have: 

• Mens Shawl : 50/100 Inches (125cm x 250cm)
• Women Shawl : 40/80 Inches (100cm x 200cm)
• Stole (Unisex) : 28/80 Inches (70cm x 200cm)
• Muffler(Unisex) : 13/68 Inches (43cm x 174 cm)

Higher the dimensions, the more the price. If someone is selling far below the market rates, they are not selling you pashmina. Instead, they are selling you a replica in the name of pashmina.

We don’t like pilling on our clothes.

If you are considering pashmina, that will not have pilling. Suppose you believe in this and looking for a Pashmina product that guarantees no-pilling. In that case, you are surely going for a fake one. Pilling is a prominent feature with any animal fibre material. If there is no pilling on the shawl, it is most likely synthetic. By now, you must be assuming that it is difficult to buy a real pashmina shawl. What if I say it not.

These tests and a little common sense will guide you in ascertaining a real pashmina product.

After reading our blog, you have all the know-how and expertise to differentiate between real and fake pashmina. If you have any questions regarding the same, we are happy to help you with that.

Looking for a genuine pashmina product but don’t know where to find one? Well, worry not. We have a solution for you. House of Nimo treasure the elegance and luxury of real pashmina that are made 100% by the nomadic community of Ladakh, known as changpas of Changthang, the finest pashmina source in the world. You can connect us on Instagram.