Plain Tusha Cashmere Stole from Kashmir with Sozni Hand-Embroidery on Border
Dry clean recommended. Store with natural cedar or neem leaves. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture.
Description
Poppy red, the colour Kashmir reaches for when it wants to speak without restraint. Tusha cashmere is among the finest grades of pashmina, woven from the neck-fleece of the Changthangi goat and prized for a softness that borders on the implausible. Along the border of this stole, artisans from the Kashmir Valley have worked Sozni embroidery by hand, a needle-work tradition that draws its name from the Kashmiri word for needle and demands years of apprenticeship before a craftsperson earns the right to call the stitch their own. The motifs here are restrained, as Sozni at its most refined tends to be, allowing the warmth of the cashmere and the depth of the poppy ground to carry equal weight. It is the kind of piece that asks nothing of you except to be worn well. Drape it over the shoulders of an ivory or cream silk kurta for a winter gathering, or let it fall loosely over a fine wool blazer for evenings that move between indoor warmth and an open terrace. Either way, it will be remembered.
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Behind this piece
Tusha cashmere occupies a singular place in Kashmir's textile hierarchy. Woven from the softest under-fleece of the Changthangi goat, it is gossamer by nature, holding warmth far beyond what its featherlight weight suggests. The Sozni needle, wielded by artisans in the Kashmir Valley, traces its floral motifs with a single thread passed through the weave from the reverse, creating embroidery so fine it reads almost like printing. The border on this poppy red stole follows a restrained vine pattern, a deliberate choice that lets the cloth itself speak before the craft does.
How to style
Wear it as a dupatta over an ivory Lucknowi kurta set for a winter wedding, letting the poppy red carry the occasion's colour without competing with heavy embellishment. For diaspora dressing, drape it loosely over a camel wool coat paired with cigarette trousers and ankle boots, treating it as the one warm note in a neutral palette. At a formal dinner, fold it into a rectangular wrap over a silk blouse and palazzo, and anchor the look with oxidised silver earrings that echo the stole's handworked border without overpowering it.
Fabric & care
Tusha cashmere is among the most delicate fibres used in Indian textiles and rewards careful handling. Hand wash alone, in cold water, using a mild shampoo or specialist wool wash, never wringing or twisting the cloth. Lay flat on a clean towel to dry in shade, reshaping gently while damp. Store folded, never on a hanger, wrapped in a muslin or cotton bag with a cedar block to discourage moths. With this attention, the stole will soften further across seasons, becoming a textile that genuinely improves with the years.
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