Indian shawls are a loose rectangular shaped piece of fabric that is draped over the shoulders or head. These garments are mostly used in order to keep warm during the winter months however, with contemporary styles in mind, they can be used to drape over a dress if wearing a jacket is inappropriate at that time.
As the name suggests, this garment originates from India, predominantly from Kashmir. Interestingly, the Indian shawl, when worn in Western Europe, was considered to be a high fashion garment which was worn by society’s elite in the 1800s.
Pashmina shawls & stoles
A widely popular and coveted variant is the Pashmina shawl. This is made with the hair of the mountain goat and is considered to be one of the most exquisite shawls. Since they are so popular, many women throughout the world choose to buy Pashmina shawls online.
India has various takes on the Pashmina shawl. One version is the Amli which uses intricate needlework to create delicate embroidery throughout the body of the garment. The designs that are usually created on shawls such as these are inspired by environment and therefore include motifs such depicting leaves, trees and vines.
Due to their origin, when looking for shawls online, India is certainly the best place to browse them. One of the largest manufacturers in the world of Pashmina shawls, India has different variants to offer. This is why when women choose to buy shawls online, India has the best shopping portals to choose from if one is looking for the genuine ones.
Regular Kashmiri shawls are made with the help of thick fabrics such as wool, linen and, at times, cotton. These shawls are characterized by the crewel embroidery, which is made with wool and uses motifs and patterns inspired by nature.
The wools used in these kinds of shawls are usually deep green, red, blue and black as the background fabric is usually either white or cream and these colors tend to stand out the best. Interestingly, this form of embroidery is also used in contemporary patterns to embroidery on handbags and shoes and is also popular.
When looking for authentic Indian shawls, online shopping is a great option since finding different products as per individual tastes and requirements is quite simple. Furthermore, it is also easier to know the history and heritage behind each product.
Indian Pashmina shawls are quite renowned throughout the world and buying shawls from India was never easier with the internet at one’s fingertips. Whether women need a light garment to shelter from the cold or just as a fashion accessory, the perfect solution is a shawl.
India has the finest range of these garments all over the globe. This is why, whether one is looking for an authentic Kashmiri shawl or a Pashmina shawl, India is the right place to look for them.
Styling and Trends of Indian Shawls
One of the best things about shawls is their versatility. These garments can be thrown on over practically anything and it will jazz up you look. For casual lunches with friends, women prefer throwing on an embroidered shawl over an elegant salwar kameez.
For a similar moment, wearing indo western clothing with shawls is also perfectly acceptable. Women looking to heighten their fashion-quotient tend to make the shawl the centerpiece of the attraction of their ensemble as opposed to treating it as an accessory. For this, heavily embroidered shawls are ideal.
For formal occasions, a shawl can also be thrown on over a saree. A saree made from silk, georgette, chanderi, velvet or any other material is an ideal companion to these shawls. A light gauzy shawl can be draped over an anarkali suit instead of the dupatta that comes with it to create an interesting look.
When wearing a saree, it is ideal to wear high heeled shoes because they add to the fall of the saree and also to the height to the woman wearing them. They can also be worn with anarkali suits although flat V shaped footwear usually looks better with this.