HISTORY OF KASHMIR SHAWLS

Kashmir shawl, also spelled Cashmere, type of woollen shawl woven in Kashmir. According to tradition, the founder of the industry was Zayn-ul-ʿĀbidīn 15th-century ruler of Kashmir who introduced weavers from Turkistan. Although woolen shawls were mentioned in writings of the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, it is only in the 16th century that the first specific references to Kashmir work appeared. Kashmir shawls are woven partly or wholly from goat hair called pashm. In the 19th century, shawls were classified as pashm shāla (made from the hair of domesticated goats) and aslī tūsh (made from the hair of wild goats).