Kashmir shawl, also spelled Cashmere, is a type of shawl woven in Kashmir, identified by its distinctive Kashmiri weave, and for being made of fine shahtoosh or pashmina . Zayn-ul-ʿĀbidīn, one of the rulers of Kashmir introduced the shawl industry in Kashmir. Valued for its warmth and light weight, the Kashmir shawl trade inspired the global cashmere industry. In the late 18th century, it arrived in Britain, and then in France, where its use by Queen Victoria and Empress Joséphine popularised it as a symbol of exotic luxury and status.
