This solid-coloured pashmina is fit for a queen. The rich colour of moist earth becomes the fabric like no other neutral. Because pashminas have traditionally been woven in statement, feminine colours, this one is sure to stand out. An infusion of pretty pastels characterises the embroidered panels along the edges, which complement the field colour. The motifs are classic - paisleys and chinar leaves, superimposed with miniscule tendrils. These motifs are quintessentially Kashmiri, where these one-of-a-kind shawls are fashioned.

The texture is to die for. Softer than butter, warmer than toast, it could be layered over your choicest evening sarees and suits to exude an inimitable traditional glam. In fact, the word for the fabric comes from the Persian 'pashm', which means 'soft'. No other part of the world has the skill to work with this wool, which itself is endemic to the Kashmir-Tibet region. A single work of pashmina such as this one takes weeks, if not months, of labour to be finished, making these shawls as desirable they are the world over.