What is the difference between a wool and silk shawl and a pure cashmere shawl?

The Kashmir wool and silk shawl combines the luminous lightness of silk with the warm softness of wool. Compared to pure cashmere, the wool-silk blend produces a more lustrous and resilient fabric, with a fluid drape and richer colour rendering. The silk adds a subtle sheen that enhances the woven motifs — particularly evident in checked models such as the Grapes Checks checked shawl — while the wool provides warmth without excessive weight. The result is a versatile accessory suited to different settings and with superior longevity thanks to the natural resilience of silk fibre.

How are the Kashmir wool and silk shawls made?

The wool shawls in the Fabindia Roma collection are handwoven on traditional Kashmiri looms. Artisans work the weft by alternating wool and silk threads with precise gestures that demand great experience. The checked and striped patterns are created directly during weaving, varying the weft colours without any printing or subsequent dyeing. Reversible models, such as the Avion reversible wool and silk shawl, feature two faces with complementary palettes, both finished and wearable — a result achievable only through manual loom weaving. The subtle variations between one piece and the next are the hallmark of this artisanal craftsmanship.

What does ‘reversible’ mean in Fabindia Roma shawls?

A reversible shawl features two finished faces, both wearable, with complementary colours or motifs. The Kashmiri weaver works the loom so that the front and back differ: the Cipria shawl, for instance, alternates a lighter and a deeper tone, while the Erica Checks checked shawl offers two variants of the same geometric design. In practice, every reversible shawl is two garments in one: simply flip it to change the look of the outfit entirely.

How do you wash and store a wool and silk shawl?

Wool and silk shawls require delicate care to preserve their softness and colours. We recommend hand-washing in cold water with a detergent formulated for wool, without rubbing or wringing the fabric. Rinse gently, blot excess water with a clean towel, then lay the shawl flat on a dry surface, in the shade. Never tumble dry. For storage, fold carefully and place in a drawer away from light, preferably with a sachet of lavender or cedar to protect the natural fibres from moths. Avoid hangers that could distort the fabric. With this care, a Kashmir wool and silk shawl retains its beauty for years.

How to style a wool shawl with Fabindia Roma garments?

A wool and silk shawl integrates naturally into the Fabindia Roma wardrobe. Draped over the shoulders, it elegantly completes a hand-printed cotton kaftan: a shawl in warm tones like the Rust Checks checked wool and silk shawl sits harmoniously alongside a floral kaftan. Over a soft quilted jacket it creates a refined textural contrast between wool and stitched cotton. For a lighter look, it can be alternated with an Indian cotton block print scarf, playing on different weights and materials.

Artisanal Wool and Cashmere Shawls

Wool Shawls

Fabindia Roma wool shawls are born in Kashmir from a blend of wool and silk worked by hand on tradit...

Fabindia Roma wool shawls are born in Kashmir from a blend of wool and silk worked by hand on traditional looms. Luminous softness, fluid drape and weightless warmth: every wool and silk shawl bears t...

Fabindia Roma wool shawls are born in Kashmir from a blend of wool and silk worked by hand on traditional looms. Luminous softness, fluid drape and weightless warmth: every wool and silk shawl bears the signature of artisanal gestures passed down through generations.

The collection presents wool shawls organised into families. The checked models express the same reversible geometric design in different colour palettes: among them, the Erica Checks reversible wool and silk shawl offers warm, earthy tones, while the Blue Checks shawl shifts to cool, deep hues. Striped variants — Olive Stripes and Melange Stripes — alternate horizontal colour bands with the same reversible construction. Solid-colour wool shawls, such as the Cipria reversible wool and silk shawl and the Bordeaux reversible shawl, play on the contrast between front and back. Signature pieces close the collection: the Klimt Kashmir wool and silk shawl, the Twombly shawl and the Wright shawl, each inspired by a different artistic vision.

These Kashmir wool and silk accessories can be worn in many ways: draped over the shoulders as a generous stole, wrapped around the neck as a scarf, or folded and laid over a sofa as a textile furnishing element. The double face of the reversible models doubles the styling possibilities, transforming every wool shawl into two distinct pieces with a single gesture.

A wool and silk shawl pairs naturally with other Fabindia Roma garments. Draped over a hand-printed cotton kaftan, it adds a warm layer without weighing down the silhouette. Over a soft quilted cotton jacket it creates a refined textural dialogue between Kashmiri wool and stitched cotton. To complete the ensemble with artisanal coherence, a Roma quilted cotton shopper carries the same handmade spirit.

Every Fabindia Roma wool shawl carries the mark of Kashmiri hand-weaving: subtle irregularities in the fabric, imperceptible tonal shifts from one piece to the next, the softness that only natural fibres woven on a loom can deliver. These are details that speak of hours of artisanal work and make every wool and silk shawl unrepeatable.