New Collection of Pashmina Shawls — From Ladakh
NEW SHAWLS!
The Maiwa team have just returned from our second trip to Ladakh - this time having camped on the Changthang Plateau to better understand the nomads, the pashmina goats, the yaks and the life on the Plateau.
The Changthang Plateau, located in Ladakh, India, is a striking high-altitude expanse that stretches into northern Tibet. Renowned for its breathtaking scenery, stunning mountain ranges and extreme climate, this semi-arid plateau sits at an average elevation of about 4,500 meters (14,800 feet).
It is from this landscape that you find the finest pashmina in the world. Pashmina goats from Ladakh are raised in natural open areas on one of the highest pastures on the planet. Herded for generations, along with yak and sheep, by the Changpa nomadic families who inhabit the plateau. It is the region's harsh climate, high altitude and cold temperatures dropping to -40 degrees Celsius that contribute to the ultra fine fibres in the goats wool.
Ladakh pashmina is rare and sought after constituting less than 2% of global pashmina production. It takes the entire annual growth of three pashmina goats to make just one shawl. The fibres naturally moult in the arrival of Spring and the goats are combed to gather the pashmina.
We first visited Ladakh in Autumn of 2023 and met a wonderful group of local skilled artisans from an organization called Lena Ladakh. Lena is a slow textile label where each stage of production is carried out by hand, from spinning to weaving to natural dyeing. Artisans use the traditional whorl and whorl-less spindles to work with these fibres. The women spin 25-35g of these fine fibres in one day. Half of these single plied spun yarns are then hand twisted into double plies for their warps. The skeins are then naturally dyed with indigo, lac, madder, walnut and marigold. The shawls are woven on a flying shuttle loom.
Each piece of Lena Ladakh is an elegant timeless heirloom offering extraordinary warmth and luxury.
This Collection is Only Available Online
To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
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