A Pashmina shawl is more than a garment — it’s a legacy. When adorned with hand embroidery or intricate Kalamkari painting, it becomes wearable art. At Shaza, every piece is a result of countless hours of artisan skill, where each thread, motif, and brushstroke tells a story of heritage.
To preserve this artistry for generations, proper care is essential. Our artisans have shared time-tested tips to help you protect and cherish your embroidered and hand-painted Pashminas.
1. Handle with Clean, Dry Hands
Before touching or folding your Pashmina, ensure your hands are clean and dry. Natural oils, perfumes, and lotions can stain delicate fibres or affect painted areas. Handle it gently — treat it as you would a precious painting or heirloom.
2. Avoid Perfumes, Deodorants & Direct Heat
Fragrances and sprays contain alcohol that can fade colours or weaken embroidery threads. Always wear your perfume or deodorant first, allow it to dry, and then drape your Pashmina.
Keep it away from direct heat sources like irons or hairdryers — pure Pashmina fibres are extremely delicate and can shrink or become brittle.
3. Storage: Wrap, Don’t Hang
Never hang your embroidered or painted Pashmina — gravity can distort its shape over time. Instead, wrap it in a soft muslin or cotton cloth, and store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and humidity.
Add a few neem leaves or cedar balls nearby to protect against moths naturally, without chemical mothballs that could harm the fabric.
4. Cleaning: Always Choose Expert Dry Cleaning
Pure handloom Pashmina should only be dry-cleaned, preferably by specialists who understand natural fibres and embroidery. Avoid local laundries or machine washes — both can cause irreversible shrinkage, colour bleeding, or thread breakage.
At Shaza, our in-house dry-cleaning service is designed exclusively for pure Pashmina and hand embroidery, ensuring no shrinkage or damage. Each piece is inspected by artisans to maintain its original finish and texture.
5. Reviving & Repairing Handcrafted Pashminas
Even the finest Pashminas can age with time. Fading, thread loosening, or minor tears are natural — but they can be restored.
Shaza offers redesign, repair, and embroidery revival services that bring your old Pashmina back to life. Our artisans can re-embroider missing motifs, restore hand-painted patterns, or even rework your shawl into a stole, cape, or jacket — retaining the soul of the original.
6. Rotate & Rest Your Shawls
If you own multiple Pashminas, rotate them through use. Let each piece “rest” for a few weeks before wearing it again. This reduces stress on fibres and allows natural air to refresh them.
Avoid pinning brooches or sharp jewellery directly — these can pull threads or leave tiny holes on embroidered areas.
7. Ironing & Steaming
If your Pashmina has wrinkles, use a low-temperature steam iron with a cotton cloth placed on top — never apply direct heat. For painted or zari-embroidered areas, steaming from the reverse side is safest.
Avoid pressing embellishments directly to preserve texture and sheen.
Conclusion: Preserving Art, Not Just Fabric
Each Shaza Pashmina carries the legacy of Kashmiri craftsmanship and artistic expression. Whether hand-painted or embroidered, these creations deserve the same care and reverence as any fine art. With mindful storage, expert cleaning, and artisan-led restoration, your Pashmina will remain as graceful and timeless as the day it was made.
