From choosing various types of shawls, Kashmiri Pashmina shawls stand among the best. These shawls have been valued since the time of the Mughal emperors. However, fake materials have now been combined with mass production, and this poses a threat to the quality and authenticity of Pashmina shawls. Therefore, in order to preserve this craftsmanship, GI tagging has been introduced.
To safeguard and honor this distinction, the Kashmiri Pashmina shawls received the GI tag, which means Geographical Indication, and are marked as a symbol of authenticity. Moreover, the GI tag certifies that the product possesses distinct qualities and has been found in the specific geographic region. Pashmina shawls that come along with a GI mark signify that their origin is in Kashmir. Also, these GI Pashmina shawls are the attributes of authenticity and originality.
Understanding GI Certification & What It Signifies?
GI, which stands for Geographical Indication, is a legal mark that is assigned by a government to certify that a product originates from a specific geographical location. With the rapidly increasing machine-made shawls, especially from textile hubs like Ludhiana & Amritsar in Punjab, it has become very important to have an authenticity tag for pure Pashmina Shawls.
Please note that Kashmiri Pashmina shawls are officially registered under India’s Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods Act. Also, it holds GI No.46 & Certificate No. 97, under Classes 23, 24 & 25, since 9th December 2005.
How would you get to know if a Pashmina accessory is eligible for a GI Tag?
If you want to know whether a Pashmina accessory is eligible for a GI tag, then first you need to check whether it is made from 100% pure Pashmina fibers of up to 16 microns that are sourced from the under-fleece of the mountain goat known as “ Capra Hiracus”. Besides, the fabric must be hand-woven by artisans of Jammu & Kashmir.
GI Tag With the Changthangi Goat and Chinar Leaf
If looking to purchase Pashmina shawls, then it should carry this tag that signifies that it is made from pure Pashmina and is completely hand-spun and hand-woven. Moreover, you can verify this by visiting the official page of the government-run Craft Development Institute, and there you will be able to see complete product details that are listed for confirmation.
You can look at the following:
1: Fabric composition
2: Yarn Spinning Method
3: Its average Micron size and this Micron testing can be only conducted on hand-spun pashmina
4: Weaving Details
5: Design
6: Size & Weight
7: It will also have a photograph of the specific accessory, along with a certificate that is issued either to the artisans or the manufacturer, who will receive a tag for the accessory.
GI Tag Symbol: Shawl, Hands, Needle & Chinar Leaf
A Pashmina accessory that bears this tag shows that the product has been made from pure pashmina and has been hand-embroidered using the traditional Sozni embroidery technique of Kashmir. This can be verified by visiting the official website of the government department, the Craft Development Institute and it will possess the following details:
1: Weaving
2: Design
3: Size & Weight
4: Yarn Spun
5: Look for Fabric composition
6: It will also have a picture of that particular accessory and a certificate of the artisan or manufacturer for getting the accessory tagged.
GI Tag with Hands, Kanis (Wooden Sticks) & Chinar Leaf
The GI Tag features hands, Kani ( wooden sticks), and the Chinar leaf, which highlights the authenticity of Kani weaving, a tradition of Kashmir. Moreover, it confirms that the pashmina accessory is completely pure and hand-woven and is not machine-made. The Kanis mainly represent the traditional tools that have been used by artisans for creating detailed patterns. This tag represents a mark of originality, craftsmanship and Kashmir’s heritage. One can verify this by visiting the webpage of the government body, the Craft Development Institute, which contains all important information like:
1: Its Fabric
2: Weaving techniques
3: Yarn Spun
4: Designs
5: Sizes& Weights
You will also be able to see a picture of a particular accessory and a certified artisan getting the accessory tagged.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, we can say that if your pashmina accessory is GI-certified, then it simply shows that it is made from pure pashmina fibers. Apart from this, GI-certified Pashmina helps in verifying whether the pashmina is hand-spun or machine-spun or whether it is hand-woven or machine-woven. People need to understand its importance as it helps in keeping the special way of making Pashmina alive. Moreover, it also helps the people who make it, and ensures that people won’t buy fake Pashminas. In order to keep GI Pashmina safe, people can buy things by visiting the web page of the government body, the Craft Development Institute, and can also guide others on why it’s important to verify this web page before making a purchase for a Pashmina accessory.
Time to shop for GI-certified Pashmina from Pashmina Vogue today!