Raffle is one of the three basic fabrics most commonly used to make the exquisite and highly priced Kashmir shawls. Raffle is spun out of merino wool fleeces and is a popular type of shawl. Artisans, nowadays have begun using raffle woolen yarn or silk blended with pashmina on a large scale to make the pashmina shawls a little cheaper. Raffle wool is 100% pure and is used to make exquisite and luxurious Kashmir shawls.

Raffle was introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century in India, which is spun out of merino wool. Today, there are about one thousand handlooms and some powerlooms weaving raffle in Srinagar, India.

Design & Pattern:
Kashmir shawls are a rage all across the globe for their rich and intricate embroidery work. Raffle shawls are mainly embroidered with floral motifs. The various designs available include:

• Neemdoor
• Doordaar
• Paladaar
• Baildaar
• Jaalis
• Jammas

Embroidery is done with the help of a needle. Many types of embroidery are worked on raffle shawls. Sozni or needle work is generally done in a panel along the sides of the shawl. Motifs are usually abstract designs or styled paisleys or flowers, worked in one or two, occasionally three colors. These hand-woven shawls are hand embroidered in elegant colour schemes and patterns.