The word pashmina in Persia means wool; especially and exclusively referred to the wool obtained from the hair of the outer skin of the high altitude mountain goats grazing in the Himalayan Steppes. Once the word pashmina is expressed, it is understood to be a scarf, shawl, wrap, stole, or a throw produced from the pashmina wool. The suffixes may or nor may not be used. The pashmina produced in Indian Kashmir is called cashmere pashmina and the one produced in Nepal is called pashmina, pure pashmina, or 100% pashmina. Nepal also produces silk pashmina which has a blend of 30% silk and 70% of pashmina.
Pashmina shawl is soft, light in weight, and warm. It is pleasing to look at. These features distinguish it from the shawl or scarf made from the lambs’ wool, a combination of wool and acrylic, acrylic alone, or with a mixture of viscose. Pashmina shawl is a must-have fashion accessory of fashion-conscious women. It is a favorite of the aristocrats; stylish, elegant, and gorgeous women. The following are major reasons for the pashmina shawls to be more expensive than the ordinary woolen shawls:
- Exclusive Region of Pashmina Goats: Pashmina goats are found only in the high altitude steppes of the Himalayas in the East Asian countries of Tibet, Mongolia, China, Nepal, and India. The best ones are produced in Nepal and India.
- Time-bound Availability: Pashmina wool can be obtained from the pashmina goats only once a year in the summers.
- Gradual Extinction of Pashmina Goats: The number of pashmina goats is on the decrease.
- The remoteness of the Origin of Pashmina Wool: The high altitude steppes of Himalayas are located in far-flung areas with limited lines of communication with the towns and cities where pashmina scarf is produced.
- Unattractive Infrastructure: The process of production of the pashmina scarf involves more labor and craftsmen. Owing to low income and poor facilities, the number of artisans like weavers and other craftsmen involved in the process of producing pashmina wool and pashmina shawls is on the decline.
- Time Consuming Process of Production: The process of production of pashmina shawl is more time consuming as compared with other textiles.
- Favorite of the Rich and the Famous: Pashmina has been the favorite of the rich and the famous including the kings and the queens of the older days and celebrities and other famous women of today.
- The influx of Fake Pashminas: Real pashmina has to be distinguished from the fake ones.
Mostly all good things in life are relatively more expensive than the common ones. Anything which draws the attraction of a vast majority, its demand increases than its supply. Once the demand surpasses the supply, the price of the product in demand starts increasing which decreases the number of consumers because of their inability to pay the higher price. A state of equilibrium is reached and the price of the product becomes somewhat static. This logic applies to all products and so it does to pashmina.