Since antique, shawls are knowned, with references even in the Bible, but the recent Shawls story came from the English's Kashmir discovery in the 18th century.
What enthralled all public about these shawls, was the extraordinary softness of the cloth, alloyed with an exceptional delicacy given by the Tibet goat's down with which they are made.
The goat's down has outstanding qualities because of the delicacy of the fiber (3 to 4 times lower in the thickness of a hair, so less than 13 microns), and the necessary extreme conditions for its production (Himalayan winter).
This exceptional delicacy gives this fiber an absolutely exceptional softness in touch, and as it is naturally insulating (for good reasons), it allows to create very light and very hot cloths.
And what about Orenburg Shawls?
Good question :-)
The Tibet is located on the Himalayas which, as any mountain, has two sides: the south side overlooks India and especially Kashmir, where the north side overlooks the Kirghizstan which is a Russian province, near to the Orenburg city.
Both products use the same goat's down.
The essential difference between both products is the manufacture technique.
Kashmir shawls are made with a weaving technology , while Orenburg Shawls are knit.
This technique allows to get a cloth more swelling, which gives them an even nicer softness.
In fact the Orenburg Shawls are or knit by classical techniques with needles, which already gives them a very nice aspect, or by the use of "forks", which, allowing to accomplish very wide stitches, allows the upper creativity in esthetic research.
It's the "fork" method which allows to fabricate the "spider's web" type of shawls, which are the most esthetic and the most flimsy, while keeping an incredible capacity to protect from cold.
To illustrate this duality betwin outstanding lightness and swelling, it is traditional to show these qualities by making the shawl cross in the hole of a wedding ring.
Each time I see this demonstration, I can't help but having a small apprehension, but not, nothing to fear, it passes every time.
Finally, the best quality shawls are blended with silk, which gives them shine and made them in fact a luxury product, at a price which remains affordable.
Where is it possible to find Orenburg Shawls?
Without being able to find them near from you, which is rather rare, a simple search on the Internet will indeed allow you to discover some nice specialized boutiques where you will probably find all your whished Orenburg Shawls.
In the boutique orenburg shawls you will find a large range of very nice Orenburg Shawls chosen for their beauty and their softness.
See also pashminas russes and châles d'orenbourg
