Wrapped in luxury

Among the most popular accessories this season are Pashmina shawls and stoles. The lightweight fabric known for its warmth, softness, silky texture and durability is woven from Pashmina wool, also known as cashmere.

The manufacture of embroidered woollen shawls is a centuries old tradition in Kashmir. It has been given a contemporary flavour by the introduction of beaded, sequined and animal print patterns and a new range of bright colours. A Pashmina wrap can enhance any outfit be it an evening gown, saree, abaya, jacket or just a casual dress.

Labrez Naamu specialises in designer accessories made from the finest quality pure cashmere. Their range of beaded and embroidered shawls, stoles, capes and scarves co-ordinated with matching bags and shoes are available through exclusive outlets in Dubai.

Using cashmere as an alternative to leather, Labrez Naamu markets beaded and embroidered gloves, hats, jackets, tube tops, watch straps and stationery items like filofaxes. The boutique offers a personal consultation service and works closely with design houses in Dubai to create customised cashmere abayas, sheylas and evening wear for discerning customers.

Labrez Naamu combines the traditional skills of Kashmiri craftsmen and the creativity of designers based in Italy, Spain and India to make innovative designs. The collections consist of limited edition pieces with a new range every season.

The spring range comprises evening wear in colours like black, midnight blue, pearl, beige, fuchsia, lilac, silver and chrome. The emphasis is on floral designs and beaded animal prints with zari‚ work in gold thread giving a sophisticated, dressy look to the collection.

The summer range to be showcased during the London Fashion Week will comprise a Cashmere bikini line with matching hats and a Kimono range in bright summer colours created by Japanese and Chinese designers. Also available in Dubai is the exclusive Labrez Beverly Collection that boasts clients like Madonna.


The Pashmina legacy
Pashmina, from the Persian word for wool is popularly known in the west as Cashmere wool, from the old spelling for Kashmir. The fine, long fibred wool comes from the undercoat of a Himalayan mountain goat, which lives at altitudes of 10,000 to 15,000m above sea level on the Tibetan plateau. A single goat yields up to eight ounces of fibre per year.

For many centuries Kashmir was the only place the fibre could be woven into shawls, according to treaties that gave the Maharaja of Kashmir exclusive rights to Tibet's Pashmina supply. It is still the place where the most skilled craftsmen are found and the entire process of spinning,weaving, dyeing and embroidery is done by hand.

Most Pashmina shawls available in the market are a blend of cashmere and silk. The cost of a shawl depends on the quantity of wool in the blend and the work on it. Silk thread is used for the embroidery and depending on the design the embroidery on a single shawl can take from two to five years.