Why Pashmina

🧵 1. Real vs Fake Pashmina

Not all "pashmina" is real. Here's how to tell the difference.

True pashmina is made from the ultra-fine undercoat of the Changra goat, found in the high altitudes of the Himalayas. It’s lightweight, warm, and soft enough to pass through a ring.

But many products labeled “pashmina” are actually cheap blends or synthetics.

💡 How to Identify Authentic Pashmina:

  • Micron thickness: Real pashmina is 14–19 microns (thinner than most cashmere).

  • Weave: Handwoven with natural texture — not perfectly uniform.

  • Sheer & Warm: Light passes through it, but it’s 3x warmer than wool.

  • Burn test: Real pashmina smells like burnt hair, not plastic.

  • Price: If it’s too cheap to believe, it’s likely fake.

➡️ Every Lumusae piece is certified for authenticity. When you shop with us, you’re buying the real thing.

🧶 2. How It’s Made

7 days. 7 steps. Hundreds of years of tradition.

Our shawls are not machine-made. They are crafted. Each one goes through a slow, careful process by skilled artisans in Nepal:

🛠️ The Journey of a Shawl:

  1. Combing the Changra goats in spring (no shearing)

  2. Cleaning and separating fibers

  3. Hand-spinning into yarn

  4. Natural dyeing using plant-based or azo-free dyes

  5. Hand-warping the loom

  6. Weaving by hand

  7. Finishing and softening

This centuries-old process makes every shawl slightly unique — just like a fingerprint. That’s why we call them heirlooms.

📜 3. NPIA Certification

Certified by the Nepal Pashmina Industry Association. Guaranteed purity.

Lumusae proudly carries the NPIA certification — an official mark from the Nepalese government verifying that our shawls are:

  • 100% pure pashmina (not blended with silk, viscose, or acrylic)

  • Sourced from Changra goats in Nepal

  • Handcrafted according to heritage standards

This certification protects both the artisan tradition and you, the customer.