Kashmir, also known as the "Paradise of Earth" lies in the valley of the Himalayas, in the northern tip of India. Shawl weaving is the prominent industry in India and dates back to the Mughal empire in India. The Mughal emperor Akbar the Great, experimented with various styles and encouraged weavers in Kashmir to try new motifs, which led to the establishment of a successful shawl industry in India.

Kashmiri shawls occupy a pre-eminent place amongst textile products. Shawls made in Kashmir are characterized by the elaboration of its design, the glowing harmony, depth, brilliance and enduring qualities of its colours. The cone pattern is a unique pattern found in Kashmir shawls.

Fabric:
The brilliance and excellence of Kashmir shawl is mostly found in the very fine, soft, flossy, short underwool, called pashm or pashmina that is used for making them. This wool is obtained from the shawl goat, which is a variety of Capra hircus inhabiting the elevated regions of Tibet.

The three basic type of fabrics used for making Kashmir shawls include:

• Pashmina
• Shahtoosh
• Raffle

Kashmir shawls are produced by two techniques: loom woven or Kani shawls, and the needle embroidered or Sozni shawls. In addition to pattern and design, generally there are two principal classes of shawls:

• Loom woven shawls: These are also called tiliwalla, tilikar or kani kar, sometimes woven in one piece, but mostly woven in small segments, which are then sewn together with high precision and fineness.
  
  
• Embroidered shawls: Also called amlikar, in these shawls, a minute and elaborate pattern is created by working on the root of the plain pashmina with the help of a needle.