FAQs

Baby cashmere is the ultra-fine down hair collected during a young goat's first spring molt (around 6-12 months old). During this natural shedding season, the goats are gently combed to remove their winter undercoat – a process they naturally need and enjoy, much like grooming a pet.

Not at all! The combing process is actually beneficial for the goats. Just like cats and dogs naturally shed their winter coat, these goats need to shed their warm winter undercoat as temperatures rise in spring. Our gentle combing helps them do this comfortably and prevents matting.

Baby cashmere fibers from the first combing are exceptionally fine, measuring just 14-15 microns in diameter (compared to 16-19 microns for adult cashmere). This results in the softest, most luxurious cashmere possible. Each young goat produces only about 30-40 grams of this precious fiber in their first spring, making it extremely rare.

This is a wonderful question rooted in the heritage of the craft. Essentially, pashmina is a specific, very high grade of cashmere. The word "pashmina" comes from the Persian word for wool and traditionally refers to the exceptionally fine cashmere sourced from the undercoat of the Changthangi goat in the high altitudes of the Himalayas.

While all pashmina is cashmere, not all cashmere meets the incredible fineness to be called pashmina. At Maison Makalu, we honor this heritage by using the term to describe our most luxurious shawls, crafted in the traditional Nepalese style from the finest fibers.

We take great care to photograph our shawls to represent their true colors as accurately as possible. However, every monitor, phone, and tablet screen is calibrated differently, which can cause slight variations in how a color is displayed.

Furthermore, many of our shawls are hand-dyed in small, artisanal batches. This traditional process means there can be subtle and beautiful variations in hue from one piece to the next. This is a hallmark of true handiwork, not a defect, and is part of what makes each shawl a unique piece of art.

Pilling is a natural characteristic of all fine animal fibers, including the highest-quality cashmere. It is caused by friction during normal wear, which can cause some of the shorter fibers to tangle together.

The good news is that this is easy to manage and will lessen over time as the shawl settles. We recommend using a cashmere comb or a gentle fabric shaver to remove any pills that appear. Proper care is the best way to maintain the beauty of your shawl for years to come.

We have a 14-day return policy for items that are returned in their original condition: unworn, unwashed, and with all original tags and packaging intact. The customer is responsible for the cost of return shipping.

For complete details on how to start a return, please read our full Return Policy page.