Shahmina
Shamina or Shah mina (Persian for "emperor's wool") refers to a type of shawl made from Baby Cashmere wool obtained from select Inner Mongolian goat herds and has an average fibre diameter of 13-13.8 micrometres. Shahmina shawls are hand spun, woven on only hand-looms and embroidered by hand in Kashmir, northern India; and made from fine cashmere fibre. It is textured and processed exactly as Shahtoosh. This unique fabric is manufactured completely by hand process, starting from gathering of Cashmere to spinning and then processing it on Handlooms. This natural Cashmere is 100% organic Pashmina without artificial chemicals. This shawl is the finest Cashmere with shades of natural yarn of Cashmere distinguished with different color of stripes.1/2 inch self fringes. Shamina shawls are made in variety of colors, designs and embroideries.You may also find them in plain, yarn dyed and in natural organic colors white and natural.
Products
Shahmina accessories are available in "stole" 28 by 80 inches (0.71 m × 2.03 m) to full sized shawl 36 by 80 inches (0.91 m × 2.03 m). Shamina as originally innovation in pashmina resembles the designs of shahtoosh. They are known for their softness and warmth. A craze for shamina since 2001 has resulted in high demand for these shawls worldwide.
Many factories manufacture similarly to these shawls on a computerized power loom and slider power looms. This is completely a commercial aspect of this product which is made soft due to number of chemicals used in its process. Power looms provide approximately six to eight shawls in a day whilst a handloom can only make one shawl in 12 days.
Cashmere yarn used is machine spun for such shawls on power looms as 13 micrometre diameter wool is too fragile for such machines. A handloom weaver easily weaves the shamina without compromising on quality of shawl. It is popularly made in small diamond and large diamond weave, herringbone weave and multiple color embroideries. One can differentiate the commercial aspect by putting it towards light and observe a symmetric weave without any flaw. The purest shamina, which is made on handlooms, does not have a consistent weave and may have flaws which are characteristic of the fabric.