History & Tradition

Beautiful Kashmir: 5 Spots to Visit

The beautiful and epic land of Kashmir is delight to visit and every year millions of tourist flock to this part of the world as they look to escape the daily hustle and bustle of life in the big cities. To the unseasoned traveler, finding places to visit can be quite daunting so we’ve put together our selected list of five places every visitor to beautiful Kashmir must go.

As you go through the list, keep two things in mind:

  1. The list is not exhaustive and you could very well find other places in Kashmir just as delightful to visit
  2. Pretty much all of Kashmir is beautiful so you can’t go far wrong by just visiting the place

So, with that out the way let’s dive right into our top 5 list of places to visit in Kashmir.

1 – Shalimar Garden

Top of the list is Shalimar Garden, built in 1616 by Emperor Jehangir for his wife Nur Jahan. The garden was enhanced significantly when during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, between 1628 and 1658 who commissioned a second garden called Faiz Baksh.

Shalimar Garden is truly a sight to behold. Spanning a delightful 539 x 182 metres, the garden is known for its four breath-taking terraces and its beautiful decorated canal which can be found inside. The garden is often called the Garden of Love due to its beauty and was once the playground of the royal ladies of the time. Today the garden is a harvest of beauty and simply a delightful place to go in order to see the rich artistic history of Kashmir.

2 – Dal Lake

After the garden of love, the Dal Lake is perhaps the most beautiful sight and experience any visitor to Kashmir can have. Nestled wonderfully between mountains on three sides, the banks of the Dal Lake provide a visual feast for the eyes with its beautiful blooming gardens and orchards which run alongside.

The Dal Lake has five basins and numerous channels; all linked together perfectly for exploring. The Dal Lake is the sight of commerce from farmers who grow sumptuous organic vegetable below and take them to market. Tourists get a chance to visit the numerous houseboats which form part of the landscape of the Dal Lake.

3 – Drass

There’s only one other inhabited place on earth that is colder than Drass and it is in Siberia, Russia. But despite this status as being the second coldest inhabited place in the world, Drass is a haven for tourists looking to explore the Kashmir to its fullest.

Drass is 3230 metres above sea level and situated around 60 kilometres west of Kargil. The Kashmiri inhabitants of Drass all live in a small township located in the heart of the Drass Valley. Visitors to Drass begin their adventure at the commencement pass of the Drass Valley known as Zojila Pass – otherwise known as the Himalayan Gateway to Ladakh

4 – Chashmashahi

Another garden but this time the smallest of the three Mughal gardens located in Kashmir. Built in 1632 AD, Chashmashahi is located above the Nehru Memorial Park and provides a picturesque view of the Dal Lake and its surrounding mountains. The garden has several terraces – all adorned with beautiful fountains.

Visitors can also explore and enjoy the gardens aqueduct as well any one of several water falls that help accentuate the beauty of the garden.

5 – Jama Masjid

No visit to Kashmir is complete without a trip to any one of the numerous mosques in the country. There are several mosques in Srinagar and one of the most important is Jama Masjid, located in Nowhatta. The mosque was built in 1400 AD by Sultan Sikandar and later extended by his son, Zain-ul-Abidin.

This magnificent structure has 370 wooden pillars and a beautiful courtyard – all characterized by Indo-Saracenic architecture.

As we said at the beginning, condensing a list of five places to visit is hard work because there are so many beautiful places one can visit.

Hopefully this list will inspire to make the journey and explore this beautiful and epic land.

And if you’ve visited Kashmir before and have a favorite spot not on the list, share it with other readers by leaving a comment below.

Liddar Valley Kashmir Water Color Painting by Colonel G. Strahan Deputy Surveyor General Trigonometrical Branch 1869 1945.jpg 1024x686 Kashmiri Art: Beautiful Water Color Painting of Lidar Valley, Kashmir

Liddar Valley – Kashmir – Water Color

 

Here’s a very beautiful depiction of Kashmiri art Its a water color painting of Liddar Valley, Kashmir by Colonel G. Strahan, Deputy Surveyor General, Trigonometrical Branch – 1869-1945.

 

Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection

masuerade makeup Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection15th century Europe was for very long time the center of cultural expression and high-living. At the heart of this was the masquerade ball (or bal masqué). These events were grand affairs and participants attended wearing costumes and the all-important mask.

French Masquerade Mask French Masquerade Shawl Collection Kashmir Company 1024x640 Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl CollectionThe masks themselves were quite elaborate, but they represented something much deeper. You see, masquerade balls were attended almost exclusively by the upper classes. The masks were effectively a way for the very wealthy to have a playful time behind a mask and a costume. These special events became so elaborate that entire regions of Europe developed their branded masquerades. One of these famous masquerades belonged to the ducal court of Burgundy.

French Masquerade Lithograph 1876 Chromolithograph Masquerade Costume 18th Century Ball Dress Fashion 1024x679 Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection

French Masquerade Costume 18th Century Ball Dress Fashion – Chromolithograph – Circa 1876

 

Today masquerades have lost some of its exclusive luxury appeal but it is still a part of the upper classes. But they are now a bigger part of most societies and the cultural landscape. This is a good thing, because it means at least, that anyone with a desire for luxurious enjoyment and playfulness can enjoy the delights of a masquerade.

The Kashmir Company is committed to spreading cultural elegance and is proud to introduce our latest shawl collection. The founder believes that given the rich history behind masquerades—luxury, elegance and its royal connections—masquerade was a fitting name with which to delight shawl lovers.

Frontière Jardin Noir Mascarade Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection

Frontière Jardin Noir Mascarade Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

We think you’ll agree once you take a good look at the shawls in the collection. The collection is designed to give you that thrill, that exclusive mystic enjoyed by French royalty.

Each shawl in the French Masquerade collection has been given a distinct elaborate treatment. The exquisite embroidery acts as a fitting motif which delicately runs along the border of each shawl. This design and arrangement of the world-renown Kashmiri patterns adds a luxurious touch to each shawl and makes for a delightful wearing experience.

Trois Frontière Pavot Rouge Mascarade Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection

Trois Frontière Pavot Rouge Mascarade Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

The delicate cashmere with which each shawl is made adds that extra touch and wearing one gives you an intensified feeling of yourself. It’s not exactly an out of body experience, but it is akin to taking a magical journey in time back to the heyday of French royalty and aristocracy. This is the effect of the Masquerade shawl collection and quite frankly, it is the strongest appeal to the whole collection.

Frontière Jardin Divoire Mascarade Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection

Frontière Jardin D’ivoire Mascarade Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

Just by looking at a shawl from the connection and you can see the transformative power of wearing one. And did we mention that these shawls have a tendency to make its wearer exude greater than normal levels of confidence? In fact, we believe the power of each shawl in the French Masquerade collection is its ability to transform your mood, lift your spirit and deliver a deep sense of personal freedom. Things members of the privilege upper classes needed a mask in order to possess.

Rouge de Paisley Frontière Noir Mascarade Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company Have a Ball with Our French Masquerade Shawl Collection

Rouge de Paisley Frontière Noir Mascarade Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

So, whether you are looking to reconnect with a timeless display of luxury or you simply want the aesthetic appeal of a wonderful fashion accessory, a shawl from the Masquerade shawl collection will help you.

You can enjoy the intensifying feeling of the French Masquerade shawl collection by clicking here.

Maria Antoinette by Bec Winnel The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Kirsten Dunst as Maria Antoinette in the Painting by Bec Winnel.  © Copyright – Bec Winnel.

 

As a historical and political figure, Marie Antoinette casts a spell bounding mystic on the history of France and to a large extent, Europe. Though her later years were marred with controversy, the glory years leading up to the now infamous storming of the Bastille marked a period of great opulence, elegance and luxury.

Marie Antoinette Oil Painting3 The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Portrait of Marie Antoinette, 1783, by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun.

Indeed the woman who was born an Archduchess of Austria, and named Dauphine of France from 1770 to 1774 until she became Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792, was for all intents and purposes, the most famous trendsetter in Europe.

Marie Antoinette defined the style of the day, and her royal court was always adorned with the finest fashion accessories, including fine garments and jewellery from all over the world.

Her lasting legacy has been her contribution to fashion, style and luxury and today you can get anything from handbags to exquisite jewellery in her name.

This legacy is the tremendous inspiration for the timeless collection recently launched by the Kashmir Company. The founder, who has traveled to France many times, believes that French inspiration and fashion are two elements that go together very well.

But there’s another element that has been informing European fashion even before great monarchs like Marie Antoinette came onto the scene. You see, Kashmir, that epic land in the East has always been the supplier of Europe’s most exquisite pieces of fashion.

Camélia Jardin Antoinette Ivory Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Camélia Jardin Antoinette Ivory Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

It is this timeless element and grand contributor to fashion that created the perfect inspiration for the Marie Antoinette shawl collection.  Inspired by the great queen herself and the rich tapestry of colours which adorn Versailles, the Marie Antoinette collection is truly a shawl lover’s dream.

The collection is characterised by a kaleidoscope of colors and embroidery that is breathtakingly striking and beautiful. Marie Antoinette was the center of attention in her day, and the collection bearing her name is designed to create the same lasting effect in your time.

The Kashmir Company and its founder are proud of all of the collections that are released each year. This one, however, bears some significance because it captures so beautifully and accurately, the essence of timeless fashion.

Look at most portraits of Marie Antoinette and you are struck instantly by the sheer scope and style of the Kashmiri paisley shawls that is highlighted in the portraits. One would be forgiven for thinking these portraits were centered on the shawls themselves—such is the level of emotional attachment Marie Antoinette had to this exquisite fashion accessory emanating from Kashmir.

Fuchsia Jardin Antoinette Ivory Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Fuchsia Jardin Antoinette Ivory Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

The shawls in the Marie Antoinette shawl collection are truly one-of-a-kind. They represent a very real chance to make a fashion statement whilst retaining a sense of connection with the fabulous history of Europe and Kashmir. These two epic lands have fused together to represent a very perfect union of two very distinct but accomplished cultures. Through the fusion of fashion both cultures have in a way, become inseparable.

Consider the Marie Antoinette collection a gift from the Kashmir Company to the women who appreciate the subtle but luxurious aspects of high-fashion. Wear any piece from the collection and you’ll take your place among the great fashion elites of Europe and the world.

And when you are asked about your shawl (this will happen a lot, we feel), just remember that it’s a chance to display your connection to the cultural heritage of Kashmir and Europe. Don’t hesitate let people know you are wearing a shawl from the “Marie Antoinette Collection.”

 

You can browse the entire collection by clicking here

Jardin dor Antoinette Ivory Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Jardin d’or Antoinette Ivory Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

Oeillet Rose Jardin Antoinette Noir Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Oeillet Rose Jardin Antoinette Noir Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

Vignes en Fleurs Aloe Antoinette Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Vignes en Fleurs Aloe Antoinette Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

Vignes en Fleurs Port Bleu Antoinette Shawl Seasons Kashmir Company The Marie Antoinette Shawl Collection: Timeless Fashion & Luxury Inspired By an Icon

Vignes en Fleurs Port Bleu Antoinette Shawl – Seasons – Kashmir Company

 

You can browse the entire collection by clicking here

Kashmiri shawls have been at the heart of high fashion and sophistication for hundreds of years. Its influence is attributed to not just the timeless conceptualization of fashion but also the design and motifs that has come to adorn much of the fashion accessories that graced the wardrobes of fashion icons throughout the centuries.

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1680 575x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1680. Kashmir Design. A slender plant design derived from persian floral ornament with the naturalism of Mughal art.

From Empress Josephine to One such motif is the Paisley, and its emergence of a deeply set part of Kashmir shawls can be traced as far back as the 1500s. The evolution and contribution of this eternal motif will be explored so that a more complete understanding of the Paisley motif can be had.

Early Beginnings of the Paisley

By the end of the 17th century the timeless motif of the Paisley began to take shape. Its inclusion on the surface of Kashmir shawls started as a slender flowering plant with roots and the original name given to the motif in Kashmir was ‘buta‘ or ‘boteh‘ (a western adaptation of the word buta). There’s some dispute among historians over the origins of this early plant design but the general consensus is that it had Persian origins. This Persian origin was fused with the artistic themes of Mughal art and by the 18th the motif took on a richer decorative and ornate design. More flowers were added to the design and the Persian influence became even more pronounced with the replacement of the roots with the well-known Indo-Persian decorative motif, the vase-of-flowers.

The grand Paisley design we see today emerged as a part of design inspiration of shawl makers in the 17th century. During the period of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1606), shawl making underwent a massive growth spurt.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – ca Early 17th Century.

Paisley Kashmir Shawl Shoulder Mantle Mughal Period early 17th century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Early Buta on Kashmir Shawl used as Shoulder Mantle – Mughal Dynasty.  ca Early 17th Century.

Patka Shoulder Mantle Mughal Dynasty Late 17th Century Brocaded with silk thread and gold thread Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on a Patka – Shoulder Mantle. Mughal Dynasty. ca Late 17th Century. Brocaded with silk thread and gold thread. ca Early 17th Century.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle on a Pala Kashmir Shawl Mughal Dynasty 17th Century  574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on a Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Pala Shawl. Mughal Dynasty. ca 17th Century

Akbar conquered Kashmir in 1568 and took great interest both in the design and production of Kashmiri shawls as a symbol of love and royal status. He commissioned the construction of workshops dedicated to the manufacture of Kashmiri shawls and went as far as directing his aides to make specific inputs into the way shawls were woven and dyed.

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1700 1730 575x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1700-1730. Kashmir Design. The design evolved in early eighteenth century to more formal motif as the number of flowers increased.

The evolution continued well into the 19th century where the shape hardened into the now well-known Paisley pine cone but its popularity in Europe and the rest of the world was due in large part to the booming shawl trade. By the time Paisley became popular in Europe the motif had reached its design and artistic zenith.

The Booming Shawl Trade (Asia 1500 – 1800)

The boteh developed in Kashmir under the watchful eye of the Mughals and their design aides but its spread and eventual morphing into the iconic Paisley design was down entirely the trade in shawls and demand for these pieces of timeless Kashmiri fashion. From Delhi to Istanbul the Kashmir shawl became a symbol of love and high fashion and demand grew almost exponentially from the early 1500s to the late 1800s. Traders travelled to Kashmir to acquire these timeless pieces and took them as far as Iran where they were worn by the wealthy women; in Russia and places like Turkestan, the Kashmir shawl was seen as the must-have fashion accessory and this fuelled popularity which eventually swept across Europe and the rest of the world. Early traders had no interest in reproducing the beauty and elegance of Kashmir shawls in their own locals but the time European traders got into the heart of the shawl trade things changed.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – ca 1700-1730.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle on Kashmir Shawl Mughal Dynasty 17th Century 1700 1730 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle on Kashmir Shawl. Mughal Dynasty. ca 1700 -1730.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle Mughal Dynasty 17th Century 1700 1730 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Mughal Dynasty. ca 17th Century.

Buta on Waist Band Mughal Dynasty 17th Century 1700 1730 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Waist Band. Kashmir Shawl. Mughal Dynasty. ca 17th Century.

 

Travellers like William Moorcroft despatched Kashmiri weavers to England with the hope that they’d be able to reproduce the stunning and artistic pieces that were so effortlessly made in the Kashmir valley. At its height the trade in Kashmir shawls saw no fewer than 120,000 weavers and artisans making a living from the industry.

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1720 1750 692x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1700-1730. Kashmir Design. The design started to evolved further into an abstract motif due to the complex nature of the designs being started to be woven on Kashmir shawls.

The burgeoning shawl trade led naturally to an entrepreneurial interest and as shoulder-mantles became popular wealthy business interests started to find ways of imitating much of the art and design of Kashmiri shawl making. Shawl making centres were set up across Europe and places like Norwich in England, and Paris in France started to weave imitations of timeless Kashmiri art. The Paisley had pivotal growth during this time.

English shawl makers had already started to reproduce on a wide scale many of the motifs that came to define Kashmir shawls but the emergence of a shawl making workshop in Paisley, central Scotland became the centre of European shawl making. Paisley shawl making proved so popular it eclipsed the Jacquard loom perfected in France to become the de facto name associated with the boteh. Eventually the boteh gave way to the name ‘Paisley’ and this has remained to this day. It is important to point out though that Kashmiri shawl makers have never sought to move away from the original name and even today the well-known pine cone shape is still called buta in Kashmiri or ‘badaam’  like shape of a almond seed. Kashmiri artisans to this day approach the fine art of shawl making with the skill, dedication and passion of their counterparts centuries ago. From this perspective the boteh/Paisley has come full circle and demonstrates the timeless nature of Kashmiri design and creativity.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – ca 1700-1730.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle Mughal Dynasty Early 18th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir. Mughal Dynasty, ca Early 18th Century.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle Mughal Dynasty Mid 18th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir. Mughal Dynasty. Mid 18th Century.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle Afghan Period Mid to late 18th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Waistband. Afghan Period. Kashmir. Mid 18th Century.

 

The shawl industry had a marginal decline near the end of the 19th century but that didn’t dampen the enduring appeal of Kashmir shawls. Today they are as popular as ever and though they are more accessible, they’ve lost none of the ostentatious appeal that made them the choice of European and Asian royalty. The Paisley has transcended the ages too and today its timeless appeal and symbol of love can be found any everything that has a connection to high-fashion, class and extravagance.

Kashmir has once again taken its rightful place as the purveyor of the Paisley design and shawl purists now rely on gatekeepers of shawl making authenticity to supply them with the very best Kashmir Paisley shawls. The Kashmir Company has continued to be a part of that rich history and the rich tapestry of the Paisley is an integral part of the beautiful and timeless shawls that form our exclusive paisley shawl collection.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – c 1740-1770

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1740 1770 708x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1740-1770. Kashmir Design. Buta design was established as a predominant motif on the Kashmir shawl.

 

Buta on Patka Shoulder Mantle Afghan Period late 18th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Patka – Shoulder Mantle Afghan Period. Kashmir. Late 18th Century.

Buta on Patka Shoulder Mantle Afghan Period late 18th Century 2 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Patka – Shoulder Mantle Afghan Period. Kashmir Shawl. Loom woven Pashmina. Late 18th Century.

Buta Waist Band Afghan Period late 18th Century  574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta Waist Band. Kashmir shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. Loom woven Pashmina. Late 18th Century.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – c 1770-1800

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1770 1800 627x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1770-1800. Kashmir Design. Complexity of the Buta design increased as the demand by royals increased. More refined designs with complex buta motif evolved.

 

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1815 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1815

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1815. 2 575x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1815.

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1815. 3 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Shoulder Mantle. Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1815.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – c 1815 onwards.

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1815 onwards 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1815 onwards. Kashmir Design. Most of Kashmiri Shawls created for markets like Russia, Persian, India and Europe has buta design as a standard. Buta motif was brand onto itself and a symbol of Kashmiri Designers pride.

 

Buta on Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1810 1840 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. ca. 1810 – 1840.

Buta on Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Early Mid 19th Century 575x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Kashmir Shawl. Afghan Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Early – Mid 19th Century.

Buta on Kashmir Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Buta on Kashmir Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – c 1820-1830

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1820 1830 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1820-1830. Kashmir Design. Overwhelming demand for Kashmir Buta design Shawls from the West, Russia and Indian Royalty boosted the innovation of the kashmir shawl designs and buta motif was now a trademark which the west started to copy and imitate due to the increasing demand.

 

Complex and Sophisticated Buta Paisley on Long Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Complex and sophisticated Buta Paisley on Long Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Sikh-Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century.

Complex and Sophisticated Buta Paisley on Long Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century1 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Complex and Sophisticated Buta/Paisley on Long Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century.

Complex and Sophisticated Buta Paisley on Long Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century2 575x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Complex and Sophisticated Buta/Paisley on Long Kashmir Paisley Shawl. Sikh Period. Kashmir. Pashmina. ca. Mid 19th Century.

Paisley Buta on Kashmiri Paisley Shawls – c 1850-1870

Paisley Motif KashmirShawl 1850 1870 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Paisley Buta. c 1850-1870. Kashmir Design. Very complex designs with buta design started appearing due to the French and British influences. Buta was started to be called Paisley due to the Imitation Shawls being created in Paisley, England copying Kashmiri Designs. Also, new Paisley designs started to appear from the Jacquard looms in France and England.

 

Kashmir Paisley Shawl Shoulder Mantel. Sikh Dogra Period. ca 1845 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Kashmir Paisley Shawl – Shoulder Mantel. Sikh – Dogra Period. ca 1845.

Kashmir Paisley Shawl Shoulder Mantel. Sikh Dogra Period. 19th Century 574x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Kashmir Paisley Shawl – Shoulder Mantel. Sikh – Dogra Period. 19th Century.

Kashmir Paisley Pashmina Jamawar Shawl. Sikh Dogra Period. Kashmir. 19th Century. Suzani on Kani Woven Shawl 575x1024 Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Kashmir Paisley Pashmina Amlikar Jamawar Shawl. Sikh – Dogra Period. Kashmir. 19th Century. Suzani on Kani Woven Shawl.

Design from a shawl weavers pattern book. Acquired in Kashmir in 1881 VA Kashmir Paisley Shawl and its Enduring Contribution to the Paisley Motif

Design from a Naqqash pattern artist & shawl weaver’s pattern-book. Kashmir. ca 1881.

Moorcroft on Yak 1812 On the road to Mansarovar Tibet William Moorcroft and the Journey of the Kashmir Shawl to EuropeBelieve it or not, the beauty and elegance of the Kashmir Shawl that has captured the fashion taste of the Western World almost didn’t happen on the grand scale that it did. Were it not for the tireless journeys and dogged determination of an English traveller back in the 1800s, we perhaps might not have had the splendour we have today.

That man was William Moorcroft. His journey started back in 1808 when he set off to Bengal as a veterinary surgeon and superintendent of the East India Company’s military stud. Moorcroft’s fascination with the Kashmir shawl was developed after he made his first trip across the Himalayas in 1812. It was on this arduous trek that Moorcroft had his Eureka moment and made it commitment to making Britain, the centre of European shawl-making, wearing and high fashion.

During the early parts of the nineteenth century the shawl industry in Kashmir was booming with exports going as far east as Russia and as far west as France and the UK. Moorcroft thought that most of this trade should be anchored by Britain which was still at the height of her empire.

Moorcroft and Hearsay on the road to Lake Mansarowar Tibet. The travellers wearing Indian dress and riding on yaks are shown meeting two Tibetans on horseback with a loaded yak. c.July 1812 Kashmir Company Blog William Moorcroft and the Journey of the Kashmir Shawl to Europe

Moorcroft-and-Hearsay-on-the-road-to-Lake-Mansarowar-Tibet.-The-travellers-wearing-Indian-dress-and-riding-on-yaks-are-shown-meeting-two-Tibetans-on-horseback-with-a-loaded-yak.-c.July-1812

The best laid plans of course, don’t always start off well and Moorcroft felt the bitter sting of lady luck on his first attempt to bring shawls and shawl making to the West. His plans were a lot more ambitious than merely exporting to England the fine patterns and designs that adorned shawls of that time; Moorcroft wanted no less than to raise the Pashmina goat in an English field.

Moorcroft herded hundreds of goats on ships but unlike Noah, he didn’t care too much for bringing them together in pairs. Instead he herded the males on one ship and females on the other, a move that proved disastrous as the ship carrying all the females never made it to its British port.

COLOR PLATE 2. Gooleeanar pomegranate color No. 22. Hindoostan. William Moorcroft Kashmeer I823. i3s x 6Y inches. The Elisha Whittelsey Fund 62.600.2355 Kashmir Company Blog 474x1024 William Moorcroft and the Journey of the Kashmir Shawl to Europe

One of the thirty-drawings that Moorcroft got copied from finished shawls that were commissioned by buyer from Russia, Persian and India. Gooleeanar – Moorcroft (painted by a Kashmiri Naqash on paper in brilliant colored gouache) – Circa 1823

It wasn’t just Moorcroft that was struggling to ‘raise’ Pashmina; the French tried unsuccessfully and all 300 of the goats brought to France died when they failed to acclimatise. Despite these early setbacks however, Moorcroft persevered and convinced English financiers and officials to fund his explorations for another 6 years.

Those years were spent travelling as far east as Bokhara (present-day Uzbekistan) but the trail and ambition of this man driven by King and country always came back to Kashmir. Moorcroft settled in the Kashmir valley for a whole 10 months observing the sights, sounds and tapestry of the hub of shawl making. There he observed a thriving industry which at given time was employing no fewer than 120,000. Given that we are talking the year 1822 here, that figure is astonishing and reveals the breadth and depth of the demand for Kashmir shawls during this period.

Kashmir Kani Shawl Woven and Embroidered Kashmir Circa 1870 Kashmir Company Blog William Moorcroft and the Journey of the Kashmir Shawl to Europe

Kashmir Kani Shawl – Woven and Embroidered – Kashmir Circa 1870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moorcroft got stuck in in typical British fashion and went as far as sending native Kashmir shawl makers to Norwich and Paisley. These efforts were instrumental in helping Britain compete with the dominant Jacquard loom which gained prominence in France for the better part of the 1830s. Shawl making both in the Kashmir Valley continued to thrive well into the 20th century and thanks to dedicated artisans these timeless pieces of art can still be enjoyed much like they did in those pioneering days of Moorcroft. Although Moorcroft passed in 1825, his legacy will forever be the bringing together of Kashmiri art and design with European fashion.

Skilled embroidery still alive in Kashmir

Art Lovers Shawl Pashmina Jamawar Hand Embroidered Shawl Skilled embroidery still alive in Kashmir

Art Lovers Shawl Pashmina Jamawar Hand Embroidered Shawl

 

Skilled embroidery still alive in Kashmir

Featured ShawlArt Lovers Pashmina Jamawar Shawl

Antique Jamawar Shawls : Secret of the Magic Weave

Shawls by their own incarnation are grand things—items worthy of both wearing and collecting. But few shawls evoke the grandeur and splendour of shawl-making like the Jamawar. The Kashmir Valley is the birthplace of these highly sought after treasures where highly skilled artisans have been making them for hundreds of years.

S.03.0037.01.03.12.0003 147 Blog 1024x576 Antique Jamawar Shawls : Secret of the Magic Weave

The Return to Timelessness Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

 Shawls by their own incarnation are grand things—items worthy of both wearing and collecting

Today the tradition continues and the so-called ‘magic weave’ of fine Jamawar shawl making is helping to keep the tradition alive in Kashmir. To some people who are not experts on the fine art of shawl-making, Jamawar shawls struggle to capture their imagination. It is only after they discover that pure Jamawar shawls take sometimes years to make. When things are done right and every ounce of effort and detail is put into a Jamawar shawl, the front and back of such a shawl is virtually indistinguishable. As a consequence these types of Jamawar shawls are highly collectible and have become symbols of timeless fashion.

S.03.0037.01.03.12.0005 147 Blog 1024x576 Antique Jamawar Shawls : Secret of the Magic Weave

The Reflection Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

Skilled embroidery still alive in Kashmir

One of the difficulties people seeking authentic antique Jamawar shawls have is that in recent years the industry and the fine art of shawl making has been compromised by cheap materials and machine-driven manufacturing. There are few companies proving their commitment to keeping the art form pure and true and the Kashmir Company is proud to be one of them. Through our deep commitment we’ve been able to help bring authentic Jamawar shawl designs to collectors and shawl wearers all over the world.

Guinevere Jade Shawl Pashmina Jamawar Shawl The Kashmir Company 1024x536 Antique Jamawar Shawls : Secret of the Magic Weave

The Guinevere’s Jade Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

Our finest pieces, such as the Guinevere’s Jade Jamawar Shawl are one of a kind and once sold are never replicated again.  Whether you are collector or someone conscious of high fashion looking to drape a Jamawar shawl over your shoulder you can’t go wrong by looking at our selection. Click here to see our exquisite Jamawar shawl collection.

Own your slice of exquisite history

Never Before, Never Again Kashmiri Artisanship

timthumb.php  Never Before, Never Again Kashmiri Artisanship

The Lady of the Lake Shawl

A message that I can’t possibly express enough to my customers is that when I say “handmade, one-of-a-kind Kashmir Shawls,”  I’m totally serious!   Each Kashmir shawl we sell never existed before and won’t EVER be reproduced in any way, shape or form again. – Founder Kashmir Company

68654 10151192887877015 94143559 n Our Mona Lisa Jamawar Pashmina Shawl is a collector’s dream.

Mona Lisa Jamawar Pashmina Shawl

 

Our Mona Lisa Jamawar Pashmina Shawl is a collector’s dream. See for yourself.
(ONE-OF-A-KIND-SHAWL-IN-THE-WORLD)

Previous Posts