This marvelous white kerchief has been made in Orenburg region near Russia's Ural Mountains. This region is world famous by a century old tradition of shawl making. The delicate kerchief is knitted of the finest Orenburg goat down thread with addition of the silk one. It is so light that can pass through a ring. In spite of its weightlessness you can use it during winter times. 90 % wool, 10 % silk. Shawls have been a part of traditional Russian Women’s costumes since the 18th Century. The original home of the shawl was Kashmir in India. In the 19th century, Russian manufacturers introduced worsted weaving yarns and began producing their own garments. The most well known Russian shawls are those made in Pavlovo Posad factory, shawls which are very colourful and have an extensive variety of designs, Orenburg shawls that date back as far as the 17th century and made entirely by hand. They are handspuned and handknitted from the finest down of goats in the region of Orenburg near Ural Mountains.
Many people ask what kind of material (wool) is used fro knitting of the Orenburg shawls. Authentic Orenburg shawls are made of goat down. Sometimes people by mistake call the down "cashmere" but this is not exactly so. People in Orenburg area breed species of goats that give not only milk but perfect soft and light down.
Goat down shawls are durable in usage, and the more shawl is used the more attractive it is. Russian Orenburg shawls are really hand-made, they are produced in limited amount and each shawl is different and unique.
|