The earliest known mention of shawl weaving industry date back to the 11th century AD. The industry was probably older, but some have suggested that Kashmir shawls were famous as far back as in 3rd century BC, in Ashoka’s reign. The majority of Kashmir shawls housed in museums or private collections today originate from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Earlier examples are seldom found intact, with often only the borders surviving. As avid collectors of these shawls, our current Vintage collection comprises pieces from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Kashmir shawl first appeared in French fashion magazines and portraits in 1790, but only arrived in significant quantities after the French campaign in Egypt and Syria (1798-1801). When initially presented with them Empress Josephine wrote to her son Eugène, “I find them hideous. Their great advantage lies in their lightness, but I doubt very much if they will ever become fashionable. However, she changed her mind quickly and eventually collected three or four hundred shawls. Through her enthusiastic example, the Kashmir shawl gained status as a fashion icon in Paris.
