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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a WISHLIST? What is the next step after this? WISHLIST simply contains a list of product/s that you may be intending to buy for yourself or for gifting it somebody at our online store. Once you have completed your window shopping at our site you have to merely select your favorite product/s in an imaginary cart (WISHLIST) and submit your entry with some of your details (please click here to see a demonstration). The next step is our response based on your inquiry that will be sent to you through an informative mail giving you complete details about your intended purchase, shipment procedures, payment method, etc. Top Of Page
Q. How do I make the payment once I decide to buy from your site?
Q. Are there any duties or taxes that I need to pay when importing your products?
Q. What exactly is Pashmina?
Q. What's the difference between shahtoosh, shamina, pashmina (cashmere), merino wool, alpaca, and mohair?
A. Cashmere is not just a kind of tiny wool, it is not wool at all. Cashmere comes from goats living in the high and dry plateaus surrounding the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and China. Exposed to the most extreme environmental elements of altitude and cold, the goats grow a downy undercoat of soft hair beneath their coarse exterior coat, those hairs are extremely sleek, soft, warm and silky, they are called Cashmere. Top Of Page
Q. Why is cashmere usually so expensive?
Cashmere is the highest class of all natural fiber, warmer, softer, and lighter than all the rest. A goat only produces about 1.76 oz (50 grams) of washed cashmere each year. A woman's sweater usually weighs 5.29 to 10.58 oz (150 to 300 grams). That's the cashmere from 3 to 6 goats! Furthermore, garment production requires more than 20 separate processes, special equipment, and a lot of labor.
Q. I saw Pashmina shawls sold just for $9.9 by some individual sellers elsewhere, and the seller claims that it is 100% cashmere, could this be true? Those fake Pashmina shawls are usually made of 100% mercerized wool, some of them are made of acrylic (a kind of synthetic fiber), that is why they could make it so cheap (this price can not even cover the cost for a real cashmere shawl). Be a smarter cashmere shopper! Those fake Pashmina shawls are actually sold just for $1 or $2 in the market of Asian countries. Do not be fooled! Do not pay for those worthless fake things, do not encourage the liars by doing business with them!
We assure you of 100% pure Pashmina shawls, so pay no heed to cheaters!
Q. Where can I get the information for cashmere from a non-commercial source?
Q. What is Shahtoosh? Do you sell Shahtoosh?
However we do carry something looks and feels like a shahtoosh but, happily, does not require the killing of up to five chirus to make one. Please check out our Pashmina shawls, it is made of 100% finest cashmere, very soft with the natural shine of fine cashmere. It also features a Shahtoosh type fringe. Our Pashmina shawls are available in over 100 colors for you to choose.
Q. Are your carpets hand-made or machine made? And do you use natural or artificial fibers? We use two different types of wool sources for various categories of wool carpets. The basic (standard) grade of wool carpets is made of local wool from Kashmir that is used to produce carpets with thick and heavy pile. These carpets usually have bold motifs and are often used in corridors and passageways. The other type of wool that we use for a majority of our carpets comes from New Zealand - Merino sheep wool, often considered to be amongst the finest in the world. Merino wool gives a superb luster and shine that is similar to pure silk but having all the trademark characteristics of the wool fiber - sturdiness, robustness and extremely fine lushness thereby lending high workmanship and outstanding durability to the carpet that lives for generations to come. Top Of Page Q. What kind of silk do you use for your silk carpets? What is artificial silk? Our magnificently beautiful silk carpets from Kashmir are made of only pure natural silk, which is completely made by nature and never mixed with artificial or synthetic fibers or materials. Silk is an extremely fine, soft and shiny fiber that is used in a variety of luxury textiles, garments, upholstery and carpets. Pure natural silk is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm larva by an ancient process known as sericulture. The shiny appearance of silk comes from the fiber's triangular prism-like structure, owing to which the fabric refracts light at different angles. Pure silk (C15H23O6N5) is a naturally protein fiber and is composed of a number of amino acids. Silk is extremely high in tensile strength, exceeding that of nylon and other such synthetic fibers. For centuries, the silk fiber has been used to make Oriental carpets owing to its unmatched luster, shine, fineness and permanence. Artificial silk simply means synthetic or something that is not produced from the silkworm cocoon. This could also mean that it is mercerized cotton; sometimes it means a manufactured fiber like rayon or a blend of chemically altered and/or manufactured fibers. Top Of Page Q. Is there any way to test the silk fiber? Yes, there are various methods to test the silk fiber that have been accepted internationally too. The traditional way to know whether the fiber is natural silk is to vigorously rub the area with your open palm. The real silk carpet feels warm after this while the artificial silk carpet stays cool to the touch. However a more comprehensive way is to burn the silk fiber by extracting few fibers from the back of the carpet. In the case of pure silk, the fiber does not burn till the end but will extinguish shortly after being burnt. And in case the fiber burns till then end then the fiber is most certainly not pure silk. ). A real silk fiber, after being burnt will get reduced to a black, crispy ash, and the smell would be similar to hair being burnt (commonalities being the protein in silk as well as hair) and would be distinctly pungent. An artificial silk fiber, on being burnt, on the other hand will be reduced to an ash that is soft and chalky, and the smell resembles like burning paper. The third test is to dissolve the silk fiber. This is considered to be the most accurate test as this chemically differentiates protein from cellulose or petrochemicals. At room temperature, mix a solution of 16 g copper sulphate (CuSO4) in 150 cc of water. Add 8-10 g glycerin, then caustic soda (sodium hydroxide: NaOH) until a clear solution is obtained. This solution will dissolve a small sample of natural silk, but will leave cotton, rayon, and nylon unchanged. Top Of Page Q. Do your carpets provide any insulation & comfort? Carpet provides an added measure of warmth and insulation with its millions of fibers and places between them to hold warmth or to insulate against extreme heat or cold. It's warmer to sit on or work on, providing more stable temperatures for foot and leg comfort near the floor. In colder climates or seasons, it retains warm air longer, an important benefit in our energy-conscious world. In warm climates, it also insulates against invasive heat.
When the insulation value is important, the carpet's label may offer an "R-value," and a cushion label may offer one, as well. When the carpet R-value is not available, CRI suggests multiplying the total carpet thickness measured in inches by a factor of 2.6 to approximate the carpet's R-value. The R-values are additive for any combination of materials. For example, a combination of carpet with an R-value of 1.3 and a prime polyurethane cushion with an R-value of 1.6 will yield an overall R-value of 2.9.
Q. What protection does your carpets provide against safety from Slip/Fall?
Q. What are the sound reduction qualities of your carpets? Carpet not only serves as a beautiful floor covering, it also provides sound insulation. Additionally, carpet creates an aesthetic ambiance conducive to lowered voices and heightened privacy. The sound-reducing qualities of carpet include.
1. Carpet absorbs sound
2. Carpet and cushion reduces noise better The CRI "Residential Carpet Installation Standard, CRI 105" calls for carpet cushion that is both firm and resilient and no more than 7/16 of an inch thick. Under the thinner carpet styles, such as some Berbers, use an even thinner cushion - maximum 3/8".
3. Carpet and cushion insulate between floors
Q. What safety do your carpets provide for Seniors? 1. Safety is tops Safety is a top consideration for seniors, who seek a stable, non-slick walking surface that protects them from "slip and fall" accidents. Carpeted surfaces are significantly more effective at preventing slips and falls than hard, smooth surfaces. Maintaining balance, a consideration for individuals who use braces, a cane or a walker, can be less difficult with low pile carpet combined with an extra firm cushion. CRI also recommends securely fastening carpet and rugs to provide firmer footing. Carpet can also reduce or eliminate reflected glare, minimizing disorientation, and can reduce leg fatigue associated with walking or standing on hard surfaces. 2. Healing colors Studies have shown that color has psychological affects on moods. With this in mind, blues, greens, teal, mauve, coral, peach and warm neutrals are often chosen for their soothing effects. Avoid "hot" tones such as red, which may raise blood pressures for some, and yellow, which may cause nausea and anxiety to someone that already is not feeling well. Color also plays a significant role with Alzheimer's patients. According to the Alzheimer's Association, patients remember colors better than numbers; therefore, color in carpet can provide a memory link and better help to orient a person to a specific room or area. 3. Acoustics - It's quieter Privacy and unwanted noise can sometimes challenge senior parents, who appreciate their independence and may not be used to the noise levels created by visiting family members. Carpet's ability to absorb airborne sound, reduce surface noise ("footfall noises"), and block sound transmission from floor to floor is well known. Carpet with an attached or separate cushion is the most effective way to control noise and minimize sound indoors. 4. Comfort - Warm your ankles
Seniors whose feet and ankles are susceptible to temperature changes, will stay warmer on carpet due to its natural insulating properties. The surface temperature of carpet is substantially higher than that of hard surfaces due to its pile construction that acts as an efficient thermal insulator.
Q. How to store Pashmina / Silk Pashmina shawls etc.? Fold clothes or pack them neatly in tissue paper or plastic bag and store them in closet away from light, dust and dampness. Cleaning before storage is recommended, as fresh stains that may not yet be visible will oxidize and become fixed during storage, they may also be the food for moths. Moths have a discerning palate, they feast only on natural fabrics. Mothballs (naphthalene) and cedar chips are standard protection from moth infestation of woolens. To store a pure cashmere sweater during summer, the most important thing is to keep moisture away, so please do not store cashmere in a damp place. A well-sealed plastic storage box (available in most stores) is good enough (a see-through one is better as you can notice that if there is any moisture inside). Make sure the box is dry before you put sweaters in.
To keep the moth away, the first important thing is to make sure that the sweater is clean before long-time storage. Pay close attention to any food stains as moths are particularly attracted to our normal food proteins and cooking oils. Those mothproofing products are helpful, or simply spray some perfume on a piece of paper and put the paper next to your sweater inside the box. |
20, Crush Hall, World Trade Centre,Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005. INDIA.
Tel: 91-22-2218 3284. Telefax: 91-22-2218 8851
Email: contact@carpetsofkashmir.com
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