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Kashmir

"At 4,500 metres, the cold makes something extraordinary possible."

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The Place

Where altitude gives birth to the finest fiber

Kashmir sits at 1,585 metres in the Himalayas. The same cold that makes the Changthang plateau inhospitable to most life causes the Changra goat to grow an inner coat of 12–16 micron fibre — the finest natural fibre on earth. Geography is not a backdrop here. It is the reason everything exists.

The Craft

Pashmina, Sozni, Kani — three traditions, one valley

Pashmina is hand-combed, hand-spun, hand-woven. A Sozni embroidery needle builds one stitch at a time in pure silk thread. A Kani shawl is woven using up to 1,200 bobbins simultaneously, following a talim (pattern code) that can have 30,000 instructions. Patience is the raw material.

The Maker

Artisans of Rainawari and Safakadal

Kashmir's embroidery community lives in Srinagar's old city — Rainawari, Safakadal, Bohri Kadal. Knowledge of specific stitches passes from father to son within the same mohalla. Many artisans have never left the neighbourhood where their family has practiced the craft for generations.

About Kashmir

Kashmir sits at the heart of our House of Cultures. The valley's embroidery traditions are among the most distinctive in India, and this edit brings several of them together in pieces made for everyday wear as well as occasions.

Aari, worked in a flowing chain stitch, appears on most of our co-ord sets, kurtis and kaftans. Sozni, the finest of Kashmir's needlework, appears on co-ord sets and semi pashmina shawls. Kani work features on our cape jackets, short coats and handbags, while Tilla, worked in metallic thread, gives pherans, stoles and silk co-ord sets a quiet shine.

The fabrics follow the seasons. Summer brings ruby cotton, crushed cotton and soft cotton in our Koshur Summer and Shalimar Summer collections. Winter brings woolen co-ord sets, cashmilon pherans, semi pashmina shawls and pashmina stoles in our Koshur Winter and Shalimar Winter collections.

Whether you are drawn to a relaxed kaftan set, a traditional pheran or a stole for the cold months, each piece carries something of the valley. Every product page lists the craft, fabric and size of that piece.

Frequently asked questions

Which Kashmiri crafts does Meru House carry?

Our Kashmir pieces feature Aari, Sozni, Kani and Tilla work, along with zari pashmina stoles. The craft is named in each product's title.

Is there something for both summer and winter?

Yes. Summer pieces are in breathable cottons, while winter pieces include woolen co-ord sets, pherans, shawls and pashmina stoles.

What is a pheran?

A pheran is Kashmir's traditional long, loose outer garment, worn through the winter months. Ours are Free Size and often embroidered at the neckline.

How do I know a piece's fabric and size?

Every product page lists the fabric, available sizes and measurements for that piece.

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More from this region

Mehandi Aari Work Co-ord Set – Shalimar Winter
Green Aari Work Co-ord Set – Shalimar Winter
Blue Aari Work Co-ord Set – Shalimar Winter

Apparel

Kurtas, sarees, shawls and more

36 pieces Explore →