Shawls for all seasons

Shah Banoo is a new version of the popular Shahtoosh shawls

The warmth of a pure Pashmina on a cold wintry evening is as comforting as sitting by the fireplace. Tales have been spun around the many intriguing shawls with breathtaking designs that the shawl weavers from Kashmir have created.

But the Shahtoosh remains their most prominent accomplishment. A product of a tradition of over 400 years, the Shahtoosh holds significant value.

Believed to be one the most sublime of human textile creations, the Shahtoosh were primarily made for the royals. The word Shahtoosh comes from a combination of the Persian word shah meaning king, and toosh meaning wool or 'wool shawl'.

The entire shawl, two metres in length, is so fine that it can actually pass through a finger ring and is therefore also referred to as a 'Ring Shawl.' It is a warm and fine garment and is an heirloom that gains value with each passing generation.

It is from the fleece of the Chiru, a rare Tibetan antelope, that these shawls are made. This endangered animal, also known as Rtsos or Tsros in Ladakh, sheds its hair during summer with which the Shahtoosh is made.

With a ban on the poaching of the Chiru, many weavers and designers have time and again tried to recreate the magic of the Shahtoosh using intricate weaves.

Monisha Chatrath, a popular designer of Indian shawls, has decided to fill this void by creating the 'Shah Banoo', meaning the 'Queen's Choice'. This creation is made out of 13 microns and 100 per cent pure Cashmere Pashmina, and is able to match the standards of Shahtoosh.

The Shah Banoo is light as a feather and can easily pass through a ring as well. The added advantage being, it is available in more colours, as the yarn can be easily dyed, unlike the Shahtoosh, which was available only in natural colours.

Among Monisha's exquisite creations are hand-painted summer shawls which may be used as light wraps during the summers. There are others that come with tassels and zardosi work as well as with pure Swarovoski crystals in various colours and styles. There is one for every occasion and festive season too.

The Shah Banoo shawls are currently available at Elements in Al Khaleej Centre, Dubai.