Pashmina Shawls is the most exquisite choice for a luxurious and elegant look for winters. There are many ways to identify that pashmina is real or fake. They are as follow:

Burning Test: Separate one thread out of the fringes, placed the threaded piece on the plate, simply light a match and let it burn. After it burns, smell its odour and check the remaining ashes with your fingertips carefully. If you get burnt hair smell and the ash turns out to be like a powdery substance, it is intended to be real pashmina because it is created from real, natural hair. Despite the burning, a real pashmina material feels like matte, quite similar to what it was before burning.

Weaving Test: To check the authenticity of pashmina shawls a good way is to carefully examine the weave against the light. Pashmina wool is spun by hand consequently it always has irregular weaves.

Diameter Test: Diameter details of a pashmina shawl is a good way to check the authenticity as pure pashmina fibres are very finner and thinner, the best pashmina is between 14- 15.5 microns anything above 19 microns is not pure pashmina, lower the count of microns the items is softer and lighter.

Rubbing Test: This is a scientific method to check the authenticity as when we rub acrylic or polyester it will create static electricity and attract tiny objects and dust, In contrast when we rub natural fibre they would have low static energy which wouldn’t generate sparks nor attract tiny objects.

Pilling test: Pilling is a quintessential feature with an animal fibre material like Pashmina. As a result, the product is probably synthetic, if there is no pilling.

Shine Test: Pashmina doesn’t have a shine of its own, it makes no sense for your Pashmina shawl to give a glow and glittery appearance unless it some silk fabric is added to it; which in any case would make it a fake product.

Glue test: An authentic Pashmina would scarcely have their label glued to them. Since glues might come off far too easily, the labels are mostly stitched properly to show their level of quality and brand.

Determining whether a pashmina is real or genuine can be a bit tricky because there are many imitations and blends on the market. However, there are several key factors you can look for to help you identify a real pashmina:

Fiber Material:

Pashmina is made from the wool of the Himalayan mountain goat, known as the Chyangra goat. The fiber from these goats is extremely fine and soft. Real pashmina should feel soft, lightweight, and luxurious to the touch.

Price:

Authentic pashmina is a premium product due to the labor-intensive process of collecting the wool, spinning it, and weaving it into shawls. Be skeptical of pashmina products that are priced too low, as they are more likely to be blends or fakes

Label and Certification:

Check for labels or certifications that indicate the product is made from genuine pashmina wool. For example, the Government of India and the Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) issue certifications for genuine pashmina products.

Fiber Thickness:

Real pashmina is known for its extremely fine fibers. Hold the pashmina up to the light and look for a fine, almost translucent appearance. The thinner the fibers, the higher the quality.

Pilling and Shedding:

Real pashmina may shed a bit of fiber initially, but it should not pill excessively or lose its softness and texture over time. Low-quality imitations tend to pill and shed more.

Weaving Technique:

Real pashmina shawls are typically handwoven, and you may notice slight irregularities in the weave, which is a sign of authenticity. Handwoven pashmina is a labour-intensive process and often results in subtle variations.

Testing with a Ring:

A popular but not fool proof test involves passing a pashmina shawl through a ring. Genuine pashmina, due to its fine fibers, can pass through a ring without getting caught. Keep in mind that this test may not work for all pashmina products, and it’s best to rely on multiple indicators.

Certified Origin:

Some pashmina products come with a certificate of origin, indicating where the wool was sourced and the authenticity of the product. Be sure to verify these certificates with reputable sources.

Keep in mind that blends of pashmina with other fibers, such as silk or viscose, are common and may still be labeled as pashmina. While these blends can be of good quality and offer unique textures, they are not 100% pure pashmina. If you are specifically looking for pure pashmina, carefully read the product descriptions and labels to ensure you are getting what you want.