Pashmina, cashmere blend, woollen, acrylic — the word on the label tells you more about a shawl than the photograph does, and the four do not feel, weigh or cost anything alike. If you are buying a wrap for this winter or a shawl as a gift, ten minutes of reading saves a disappointing parcel. Here is the plain version.
What pashmina, cashmere blend, woollen and acrylic actually mean
All four words describe the fibre, not the shape. The same stole can be made in any of them.
Pashmina
The fine undercoat of a Himalayan mountain goat. The fibre is so thin that a pashmina shawl is very warm for very little weight, almost never itchy, and falls in soft folds. It is the most expensive and most delicate of the four. The word is also used loosely in the market, so read the fibre description on the product page rather than the name.
Cashmere blend
Cashmere is the same family of fine goat fibre; blended with wool, viscose or acrylic it keeps most of the softness at a far gentler price and survives daily handling better than a pure one. Warmth is good, weight light to medium, itch low: the sensible middle of the range.
Woollen
Sheep wool. The warmest and toughest option for cold mornings. It is heavier on the shoulders, and how much it prickles depends on how fine the wool is, so a woollen shawl is better over a shirt or kameez than against bare skin.
Acrylic
A man-made fibre, lightest on the pocket. Warm enough for mild weather, holds bright colours well, does not shrink and dries fast — good for college, travel and daily use. It breathes less than natural fibre, can pill, and builds static in dry weather.
How to judge one by feel and drape when it arrives
You cannot feel a photograph, so the real check happens on delivery. Four things tell most of the story.
- Drape — lay it over your forearm. A fine fibre collapses into soft folds; a coarse or stiff one holds its shape like a tent.
- Weight against warmth — pick it up, then wrap it. Light in the hand but warm around the shoulders is the sign of a fine fibre.
- Itch — hold it against the inside of your wrist or your neck for half a minute, not your palm, which feels nothing.
- Finish — hold it to the light for an even weave with no thin patches, and a fringe or hem that is tidy and secure.
Our shawls and scarves are listed with their fibre and measurements on each page.
Stole or full shawl, and men's shawls too
A stole is the narrow one, worn over a shoulder or looped at the neck, and it stays where you put it. A full shawl is the big chaadar that goes right round the shoulders and arms and can cover your head. Men's shawls are simply longer and wider, usually in plain or self-coloured weaves, folded lengthways and carried over both shoulders. Sizes vary by maker, so treat these as approximate and check each product page.
| Type | Usual size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Scarf or muffler | about 70 x 12 inches | neck warmth, layering |
| Stole | about 72 x 28 inches | office, college, functions |
| Full shawl | about 84 x 40 inches | cold mornings, full cover |
| Men's shawl | about 100 x 50 inches | outdoors, hard cold |
If you are unsure, a stole is the easier first buy. It works indoors without swallowing you, and layers under a jacket from our winter collection in December.
Folding, storing and washing without ruining it
A shawl rarely wears out; it gets damaged.
- Fold, never hang — a hanger leaves a shoulder mark and stretches the weave. Fold along the length, then in three, and keep it flat.
- Store breathing — a cotton cloth bag or a pillowcase, not sealed plastic, which traps damp. Keep mothballs near it but never touching the fibre.
- Pashmina and cashmere blend — dry clean, or hand wash cold with a mild shampoo, no rubbing and no wringing. Roll it in a towel to take the water out, then dry flat in shade.
- Woollen — dry clean or a gentle cold hand wash. Hot water shrinks and mats wool permanently.
- Acrylic — cold hand wash, or a machine on gentle inside a laundry bag. Dries quickly. Use a cool iron only, because high heat melts the fibre.
Two repairs worth knowing: a pulled thread should be eased back from the reverse with a blunt needle, never cut, and pills come off with a fine comb.
Which one to pick for a wedding, a gift or everyday use
Match the fibre to the job rather than buying the softest thing you can find.
- Wedding or function — a pashmina or a fine cashmere-blend stole in a deep solid shade or quiet self-work. Drape matters more than warmth, and a stole stays put through a long evening.
- A gift — a cashmere-blend stole in a neutral shade. There is no size to get wrong and it suits any age.
- Everyday and college — acrylic or a wool blend. Easy to wash at home, and bright colours.
- Real cold outdoors — a woollen full shawl, or a men's shawl.
Prices move with stock and season, so check the current price on the product page, and if you are shopping for a full outfit, our women's clothing has the suits these wraps go over.
Frequently asked questions
Is a stole warm enough for December in Punjab?
A fine pashmina or cashmere-blend stole is, over a sweater or kameez, because warmth comes from the fibre, not the size. An acrylic stole is better suited to October and February mornings. For outdoors in the coldest weeks, a full shawl covers more and blocks wind better.
What is the difference between pashmina and cashmere?
They come from the same kind of fine goat fibre, and the two words are used differently from market to market rather than meaning two different animals. Treat the fibre description and the feel in your hand as the real information, not the name.
Will a woollen shawl itch?
It depends on how fine the wool is, and on your skin. Worn over a shirt, kameez or sweater, most people are comfortable; worn against a bare neck, coarser wool can prickle. If you know you are sensitive, choose a cashmere blend, and check it against your wrist before using it.
How do I order a shawl for a man?
Go by size, not by section: men's shawls are the longer, wider ones, usually in plain grey, brown or off-white. Any shawl around 100 by 50 inches folds comfortably over the shoulders of an adult man. Woollen is the usual choice for outdoor use.
If you are not sure which fibre or size suits what you need it for, message us on WhatsApp at 0345 6650894 and we will tell you what a particular shawl feels like in the hand. Orders are dispatched within 1 to 2 working days, delivery usually takes 3 to 6 working days with a 7-day replacement if the item arrives damaged or incorrect, and cash on delivery is available nationwide.