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Pashmina Shawls
Everything you need to know about Pashmina & Cashmere w Royal Bhaktapur |
Dear visitor,So glad you found us. First of all we would like you to welcome you to Royal Bhaktapur. R.B. is a small company based in the Netherlands, specialized in import of handmade products from Nepal, through personal contacts. The place for Pashmina shawls.Please allow us a few minutes of your time to introduce ourselves and tell you more about what you need to know about Pashmina wool. Royal BhaktapurFounded in 2005 by Niki Buitenrust Hettema, as a project to help out the small local (craftsman) people in Nepal to survive their business. Royal Bhaktapur delivers only first quality products. Our shawls are manufactured by small entrepreneurs only. We do not only select on handmade products, natural dyeing colors for the making of shawls, but we take in consideration the working circumstances of the workers as well. We do not make use of child labour. This is being checked by us personally on a regular basis.What is Pashmina?Pashmina is wool produced by the mountain goat (botanic name) of the Himalayas. The mountain goat lives above 14,500 feet (4,500 meters), where temperatures rarely rise above minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 30 degrees Centigrade) in winter. Because living on high altitude, the goats need to have a warm winter fur, to protect them against the bitter winter cold and to survive the extreme climate. Only the animals living on high altitude will produce this fine wool. In spring the goats change their winterfur for the lighter summerfur. In spring the wool is collected by brushing it of the rocks and scrubs and to brush the goats. The wool of the underbelly of the goat is used for Pashmina. A goat produces about 90 grams of wool per year. One woven Pashmina shawl requires the wool from three goats.What is the difference between Pashmina and Cashmere?There is a difference between Cashmere and Pashmina wool. Cashmere is defined as any wool under 19 microns thick from the mountain goat. Most Cashmere wool is found in the 16-18 micron range. Pashmina wool has the finest and thinnest fibers and is only 12-14 microns thick. Compare this to a human hair which is about 75 microns thick.Why choose for Pashmina?• A real Pashmina shawl differs from other shawls as for its high outstanding quality;• The Pashmina shawls are very smooth, fine woven and have beautiful natural colors; • Several types of shawls, Jacquard with woven patterns, Water Pashmina with silk, 100% Pashmina wool and 70-30% wool and silk; • A shawl for many occasions and all seasons; • Once you wear a real Pashmina you do not want anything else anymore. Cheap is not always best?If you’re hiring someone to re-roof your house or drywall your basement, should you take the lowest bid? Probably not. Would you pay bottom of the barrel rates for car insurance? Not a good idea. You wouldn’t buy the cheapest car or TV available. Then why search for a cheap Pashmina shawl? Cheap has it’s consequences. Lesser quality, lesser service, lower wages for the producers resulting in child labor, no sustainability development. Buy a high quality Pashmina shawl and pay a little bit more knowing that your money goes to good causes. Supporting small entrepreneurs instead of that all the money goes to the big businessman.What is Fair Trade?Fair Trade is paying small entrepreneurs a good and fair price for buying their products. This means not negotiating for a cheaper price, but paying them a good price for their product. In this way both parties will benefit from the trade, and will help to develop the sustainability in that area.Product certificateWith the purchase of every Pashmina shawl we’ll attach a product certificate. This will guarantee you that purchased a fair trade product and help the small local entrepreneurs in Nepal. Further we make sure that there is no child labor involved in the production of our Pashmina shawls.The right pashmina shawl for you:There are different types of Pashmina shawls available, but which one is the one you’re looking for? Lets quickly list them below, and explain their specifications briefly.100% Pashmina: A 100% Pashmina shawl is a 1st class quality product. Only pure Pashmina wool is used, not using other materials like cotton or silk. This may sound contra dictionary, but a pure woolen Pashmina shawl is even more expensive than one where silk is used. 70/30% Pashmina: This Pashmina shawl 70/30 has become very popular. A shawl of 70% Pashmina wool mixed with 30% silk. The silk makes the shawl shiny and strong. Water Pashmina: Water Pashmina shawls are made of Pashmina wool and silk. Special about the Water Pashmina is that front and backside having a different shade of color. These shawls can be worn both sides. Water Pashmina Jacquard: The Water Pashmina, Jacquard shawl is related directly the water Pashmina. Special about these shawls is that front and backside having a different shade of color and the pattern woven in the shawl. Click on the images below to start shopping:
 Looking forward to process your order. Sincerely,  |
 Niki Buitenrust Hettema CEO / President What customers say
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