As our company activities are focussed on the sale of Pashmina shawls, we have planned a visit to a Pashmina weaving center.
Our local man is Shree Ram. He holds his office in the centre of Bhaktapur. When we arrive there, he welcomes us in his office cum atelier, here part of the activities take place. Here, the Pashmina shawls are packed, sealed and prepared for transport.
After drinking a cup of traditional milk-tea, we discuss the making of Pashmina shawls and drive to weaving centre. The weaving center is located on the Bhaktapur-Kathmandu road.
All machines needed for the making of shawls are present here. The basic materials, the woolen threads are delivered on rolls, thereafter the treads are bundled to the needed thinness. The bundled threads are dyed for colored weaving or woven with natural thread and dyed afterwards. Threads of cotton, wool and silk are dyed separately and have different dying procedures.
The machines used here are powered by electricity. They are copies of the old English models from pre-Industrial Revolution. These techniques have been shipped to India and has been used almost unchanged till date.
The smaller weaving equipment is made from wood. For the different seizes of cloth the machines range from small to bigger size.
After our visit we return to Bhaktapur, were shown a selection of different Pashmina shawls. Unfortunately, the Jacquard Pashmnina shawls have been taken out of production. The competition by polyester Jacquard shawls was too high. From a distance they can be easily mistaken for a Pashmina Jacquard. The production of Jacquard Pashmina shawls will only be restarted on special request.
From now onwards we will market most of our shawls our shawls with the Royal Bhaktapur label. We will guarantee you no involvement of child labor and a fair trade product.
The following shawls are available with Royal Bhaktapur label:
•    100% Pashmina wool;
•    70 % Pashmina wool and 30% silk;
•    70 % Pashmina wool en 30 % silk, Jacquard Burberry;
•    Water Pashmina wool 90% Pashmina, 10% silk.