COMPOSITION: 100% FINE merino wool
SIZE: 100 x 200 cm / 40 x 80 in approx.
WEIGHT: Very fIne 
DETAILS: Without franges

The origin of kani shawls dates back to the Mughal era under Emperor Akbhar, who loved them very much and contributed greatly to spreading their popularity among the royalty of the time. After the decline of the Moghal empire, many artisans found themselves unemployed.

However, the situation was saved by a surge in popularity of these kani shawls, in pure pashmina with intricate motifs, with their arrival in France after Empress Josephine was gifted one by her beloved Napoleon. For almost a century, kani shawls, whose designs were inspired by the beauty of nature's flower and leaf patterns, have remained one of the most sought-after adornments among the European elite.

The situation was however saved by the arrival of the very great popularity of these kani shawls in pure pashmina with intricate designs, in France, after the Empress Josephine received such a gift from her dear Napoleon. For almost a century, kani shawls, whose designs were inspired by the beauty of nature's flower and leaf patterns, have remained one of the most sought-after adornments among the European elite.

Today, the kani shawl is always woven in Kashmir by the few artisans who still have the expertise to perform such works of art. It takes a whole day for one person to weave an inch on the loom and it takes between one to five years for two people to complete a shawl depending of the complexity of the design. As a result, the price of these treasures varies on the international market between $ 2,000 and $ 8,000, which is well worth it given the dedication and mastery of the artisans needed to complete such a shawl.

Nowadays, thanks to technology, Jacquard looms can reproduce simplified versions of these kani shawls, making them more accessible. While these shawls are a variation on the original, incomparable works of art, it is still a great fortune that we can enjoy by means of these contemporary creations, the surviving traces of this ancestral tradition.

If the process described below does not suit you, you can certainly send the shawl for DRY CLEANING.

HOW TO WASH YOUR SHAWL SAFELY:

Dissolve a little quantity of mild detergent - like gentle shampoo or woolen soap - with cold or lukewarm water (at 30 °C /86 °F maximum)

Submerge the shawl in the water and move it gently for a few minutes. Do not use fabric softener and rinse the shawl very well by running cool water through it to remove the soap.

You can then take out extra water by applying gentle pressure.

NEVER RING, NEVER TWIST.

Remove the excess water by rolling the shawl in a clean towel.

Preferably lay it flat. If not possible, fold it once or twice to prevent the fibres to be stretched too much and hang it on the clothes line in avoiding direct sun or any proximity to heat sources.

Once dry, if available, the shawl can be steamed which will fluff the fibres. Otherwise, it can be ironed with a warm iron.