Kathmandu Pashmina and Cashmere

Pashmina is one of Kathmandu's signature buys — a feather-light, intensely warm shawl that packs down to almost nothing and makes an ideal gift. The catch is that much of what is sold as "pashmina" is a blend or an outright imitation, so the real skill is knowing the fibre, spotting fakes and paying a fair price. This guide explains how to shop for genuine pashmina and cashmere in the city.

The short answer

Real pashmina is a fine grade of cashmere, traditionally from the high-Himalayan Chyangra goat, and the best Nepali shawls are often woven as a pashmina-silk blend for extra strength and sheen. Pure or high-pashmina pieces feel soft, light and warm and command a premium; cheap, slippery or unusually shiny shawls are typically viscose or acrylic. Buy from established Thamel shops or fixed-price fair-trade boutiques, ask about fibre content, and look for a Chyangra Pashmina trademark label where it is offered.

What you are actually buying

• Pure pashmina — woven entirely from fine cashmere fibre; the softest, warmest and most expensive option.
• Pashmina-silk blend — a common, durable mix that drapes well and resists pilling; still a quality buy.
• Wool blends — pashmina mixed with sheep wool; warmer and cheaper but less fine.
• Imitations — viscose, acrylic or polyester sold as "pashmina"; bright, slick and very cheap.

How to spot the real thing

• Feel it — genuine pashmina is remarkably soft and light, never coarse or plasticky.
• Check the price — true pashmina is not cheap; a bargain-bin price almost always means a blend or fake.
• Ask about fibre content and look for a recognised trademark label rather than a generic "100% pashmina" stamp.
• Buy from reputable shops — fixed-price fair-trade and branded stores are the safest, and you can compare against the textile stalls of Indra Chowk in the old bazaar.

Where to buy

Thamel has the densest cluster of pashmina shops, easily browsed alongside the rest of your Thamel shopping. For a more local experience, the shawl and textile lanes of Indra Chowk in the traditional bazaars are where Kathmandu families buy their wraps. If you are assembling presents, pair a pashmina with lighter buys from our souvenirs and gifts guide.

Plan and shop fairly

This pin belongs to our Kathmandu shopping and markets collection. For the wider craft context, see the national guide to Nepali handicrafts and souvenirs, and for negotiating in the shops, read bargaining and shopping in Nepal. Bargaining is normal in souvenir shops, but in fixed-price fair-trade boutiques the marked price is the price — and that often buys peace of mind on authenticity.