From the earlist times to the present, shawls
have been part of the great tradition of Indian
textiles, especially that of weaving. Some were
famed throughout the world as the luxurious
merchandise of kings and emperors, some were
epics of the people, histories of war and love,
some were simply a practical necessity against
biting cold. Yet they were always made vivid with
colour and decoration, the hallmarks of the
Indian craftman.
Within the overall ambit of woolen cloths, the
shawl holds a particular and pre-eminent place.
Like many other Indian garments – the sari, for
example, the lungi or the dhoti – shawls are open
and unstitched, thus giving them a multiplicity
of uses.
In earlier times, the shawl was essentially a
male garment and the gift of a woolen shawl was a
mark of respect.
At the heart of the Kashmir shawl lies its
incomparable wool: wool so fine that centuries
ago it entered the world’s fashion lexicon by the
name of “Cashmere”, a texture of both infinite
warmth and the supple drape of silk.
In India shawls were made of wool ,silk or
cotton. The choice of material depended on the
climate of the user’s area, the status of the
user and, of course, the occasion for which it
would have been worn.
Entire Pashmina and tus stoles were embroidered
with pashma, silk or zari threads and become
popular in the beginning of the nineteenth
century.
The entire pattern is woven with coloured tills.
The finished shawls or fabrics are then submitted
to the purzagur or cleaner, who sorts out the
knots of the discoloured hair or yarn. He either
pulls these threads out severally with a pair of
tweezers or shaves out the defects. The fabric is
then sent directly to the refugar, who does the
mending and gives final shape to the shawl or
fabric.As the complete shawl or fabric passes
through many hands, it becomes dirty. So, before
it goes for sale, it is given a final wash which
also helps remove the stiffness due to the rice
starch in the thread. After washing, the shawl is
dried in the shade, as the hot sun spoils the
colours. Finally, the shawl becomes fine and soft
and ready for sale.
"Scarves
were excellent. Arrived faster than
expected from India. The way they were
wrapped was above and beyond anything I
have eve received. Excellent! I highly
recommend this seller."
"Second
time ordering scarves from them, this
time for me! What a beautiful men's
scarf. It just came 5 minutes ago so it
shows how fast it can get from India to
Chicago! Another beautiful hand written
message again! This place is fantastic.
If you are looking for a very unique
gift for somebody, keep Shalin India in
mind! You really can't go wrong!"
"The
personal note thanking me was a nice
touch. My stuff came pretty quick from
India and was better than I could
imagine. However, I asked for two
scarves wrapped in their own boxes.
Instead they were put in one box with
one card. Still, I am more than pleased
with my order. One of my best
experiences on Amazon!"
"The
scarf I ordered was even more beautiful
than I expected. The craftsmanship is
top notch. If you are finding it
difficult choosing a gift for a female,
give the scarves produced by Shalin
India a try. You won't be disappointed.
One additional note, with the order, I
received a personal hand written thank
you note. This touch indicates to me
that they truly appreciate the
business."
"The
scarves were absolutely beautiful and
the service was amazing. I received my
package to Australia within a week. The
hand written note and loyalty discount
card were a lovely additional touch.
One of the scarves was a gift and I was
delighted to give such a unique
present. If the service could be
improved, I would suggest a more
specific description of the colours.
Thankyou ShalinIndia. "
"This is
a great company that sells very
high-end products. I ordered several
silk and wool scarves and a blouse, and
all were of exceptional quality.
Shipping is extremely fast, even if
half around the globe, and very
moderately priced. Returns (I ordered
several things to choose from and kept
more than intended anyway) are handled
speedily and professionally (you return
to US, not India). thanks!"
Buy
with Confidence