How do I take care of these handmade scarves? Do I need to dry clean them? These are among the first questions people ask when they look at our beautiful collection of handmade scarves and shawls.

How to destroy a $180 art scarf in only a few minutes. 

On the feature photo of this article is a beautiful shawl made in the most traditional way in Kashmir; fine merino wool women in family looms, hand dyed individually in century-old clay pots heated by wood fire, and finally decorated by an embroiderer using a single needle, working painfully and patiently around the borders. Fours paisleys are then added on each corner. A beauty, that can be used as a shawl, a comforter, a meditation blanket, a thick scarf or a headscarf.  As the owner of a fine scarf company, I gave myself one of my favorite. pieces; black, with blue borders. I have used it a lot. It's so light, yet so warm.

One day, I threw it in a washing machine by mistake. It was a front loading machine on a cold water cycle. The shawl came out half its size, all the fibers curled up as if back to their original pre-spun state. !Below is a photo of a brand new folded shawl, next to an identical (but different color on the borders) victim of washing neglect.

The very fine tight weave of handmade in Kashmir

I can't even imagine what a spin would do to a scarf handwoven with handspun ultra-fine cashmere fibers.  each fiber is loosely yet securely connected to the other, which gives its amazing cloudy and fluffy feel. I don"t even want to think of how it would come out from a washing cycle. I actually never even tried dry cleaning these items. Perhaps as a test I should send one there so I can reassure my customers, but I am always happier to just hand wash them.

Handwashing a handmade scarf

Handwashing a handmade scarf, with or without needlework, is easy. And it should be a pleasant experience, as you are caring for a unique piece of artwork, not just a regular garment. A scarf can be worn for a long time before needing a wash, but sometimes it can feel good to give it a new fresh life. 

1. Fill a bucket or a very clean sink with cold water and a few drops of gentle soap.
2. Put the scarf into the water. You will feel it turn into almost a jelly-like texture.
3. Swirl it around slowly, no need to rub or squeeze it.
4. Let it stand for while in the water.
5. If there is a stain, then you can give some attention by adding soap and massaging the area with a finger, without excessive pressure
6. Rince out the soapy water, add fresh cool water.
7. Swirl around the scarf. Repeat if the water is not clear yet (it should be unless you used too much soap or the scarf was very dirty or of a darker color; some dye could wash out)
8. Empty the water and roll the scarf with hardly any pressure to drain the water out of the fiber. Never twist it. The process should be gradual. When it is light enough, fold it several times then you can roll a little bit tighter to pull more water out.
9. Lay flat to dry on a clean towel.
10. When dry, press it with a medium heat iron. 

Now see the difference with the proper washing treatment

The piece on the left is brand new, never worn and out of its plastic protective wrapper. The scarf of the right has been used for one year and shown in trade shows as a sample for another year. Finally, washed by hand last month, then ironed.

The result is amazing (and the different tone has nothing to do with the washing, it is just a lighter version of beige than the left sample). 

As seen in the photo below, the handwash scarf is a little bit more fluffy than the new one, but this happens also with normal wear and aging.

Shop now for an exclusive cashmere pashmina entirely handmade in Kashmir (and shipped from Canada!)