In Pakistan, two names dominate the shawl world: Swati and Kashmiri. People often use them loosely, and sometimes sellers mix them up on purpose. So here's a clear, honest guide to what each one is, and when you'd choose one over the other.
We're from Swat ourselves, and we sell both. We think they're both worth owning. They're just different things.
Swati shawls: woven in Salampur
When people in Pakistan say "Swati shawl", they usually mean a shawl woven in Salampur (officially Islampur), a village about 10 km from Mingora, next to Saidu Sharif. Salampur has been a weaving village for generations. Thousands of handlooms work there, and most families in the village are connected to the trade in some way.
What they're made of: Swati shawls are usually made from wool. Much of it is fine imported wool, like the Australian wool in our Swati shahtoosh, which is spun into yarn before it arrives in Swat.
How they're made: The yarn is woven on handlooms in Salampur. Many pieces are then finished with woven borders or hand embroidery.
What they feel like: Soft, warm, and a little sturdier than pashmina. They're easy to wear, forgiving, and hold up well to regular use.
What they're best for: Everyday winter wear, office, travel, family gatherings and gifting. They're the shawl you can throw on without thinking twice.
Kashmiri shawls: hand-spun pashmina
A true Kashmiri shawl is traditionally made from pashmina: the fine winter undercoat of the Changthangi goat of Ladakh. The fibre is hand-spun on a charkha into fine yarn and handwoven in Kashmir, especially around Srinagar.
What they're made of: Pashmina, which is far finer than even good sheep's wool.
How they're made: Hand-spun, handwoven, and often decorated using Kashmir's own crafts: woven Kani patterns, sozni needle embroidery, or all-over jamawar designs. At the finest level, the plain Palladar ring shawl is spun so fine it passes through a finger ring.
What they feel like: Extremely light, very warm for their weight, and with a soft, fluid drape.
What they're best for: Weddings, formal occasions, heirloom gifts, and anyone who wants the lightest, warmest shawl they can find.
Side by side
| Swati (Salampur) | Kashmiri (pashmina) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre | Usually fine wool | Pashmina |
| Yarn | Usually machine-spun | Traditionally hand-spun |
| Weaving | Handloom, Salampur, Swat | Handloom, Kashmir |
| Decoration | Woven borders, hand embroidery | Kani, sozni, jamawar, or plain ring shawls |
| Weight | Light to medium | Very light |
| Feel | Soft and sturdy | Ultra-soft and fluid |
| Best for | Everyday wear, gifting | Formal occasions, heirlooms |
| Care | Easier | Gentle, dry clean only |
A quick word on names
Both worlds have their own trade names, and they don't always mean what they sound like.
- "Swati shahtoosh" is a Salampur trade name for a fine wool shawl. It has nothing to do with the chiru antelope, whose wool is banned. We've explained the full story here.
- "Pashmina" is used on a lot of shawls that aren't pashmina at all. If a shawl is labelled pashmina, ask what the fibre actually is. Our guide to spotting real pashmina will help.
A good seller will always tell you what's in a shawl, where it was made, and how.
So which should you buy?
Think about how you'll wear it.
- For every day, and for great value: a Swati weave. Warm, practical and handmade in Swat. Start with our Swati shahtoosh and Everyday Swati ranges.
- For weddings, formal events or a gift that lasts decades: a Kashmiri pashmina. Look at Kani, Palladar and our Kashmiri pashmina pieces.
- For both: most people who love shawls end up owning one of each, and wearing them for completely different reasons.
Why we sell both
At Attan, our Swati weaves come from Salampur, a short drive from home. Our ring shawls and Kani pieces come from Kashmir, where the makers' techniques for pashmina have been built over generations. We choose each for what it does best, and we'll always tell you which one you're looking at.