Our Story
About Pashmina
Pashmina is a premium type of cashmere, harvested from the Chyangra mountain goat in the Himalayas.
Only the very soft and delicate hairs from the goat's belly and neck are thin enough, and therefore special enough, to be used for Pashmina cashmere.
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Pashmina is prized for being simultaneously warm, lightweight and soft.
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While the name 'Pashmina' really refers to this premium cashmere, the word 'Pashmina' became associated with a shawl in the 1990's as part of a fashion trend. As a result of this trend came the confusion with the name 'pashmina'; many 'Pashminas' you see for sale are mass produced, made from non-natural materials such as acrylic, and do not contain any real Pashmina cashmere.
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All of our Pashmina pieces are made with one hundred percent pure Pashmina cashmere, sourced by expert buyers in the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal.
The Weaving Process
Our pieces are hand woven with traditional techniques in India and Nepal.
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Yak Wool
Yak wool is harvested from another traditionally Himalayan creature- the Yak. It is ultra-warm and and is the material of choice for many Tribal designs.
Angora
Angora is made from the fur of a long-haired rabbit. These animals are prized for their ability to produce warm, lightweight wool.
Our Founder
Allegra grew up in New York City. A lover of nature and the outdoors, she left behind the corporate world in her mid-twenties to explore India.
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What was supposed to be a quick trip turned into a lifestyle change, and she found herself spending five years in India, living mostly in the Himalayas. During this time, she studied Yoga and Ayurveda, co-founded a Reiki school with her partner, and lived under the tutelage of an enlightened meditation teacher.
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Allegra started to sell shawls during her trips home to Connecticut, and out of this was born Samadhi Woven.
The name 'Samadhi Woven' was inspired by the innate bliss-state which is a human birthright.
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Allegra now lives on her family's farm in Litchfield, Connecticut with her partner and their six year old son.
