Wool
Wool, the essential fabric of the North and North Eastern states due to the
geographical factors, is made from the hair of various animals such as
sheep, llamas, camels and goats.
Wool is generally a creamy white colour, although
some breeds of sheep produce natural colors such as black, brown
(also called moorit) and grey. The fabric is very resilient and resistant to
wrinkling. It is renewed by moisture and is well known for it's warmth.
In addition to clothing, wool is used for carpeting, felt, insulation and upholstery.
The hilly and alpine
regions of the country has a rich collection of woolen textiles. Among
the wool products, Pashmina and shawls of Kashmir are the fine example woolen
textile Industry. It is made from the fine inner fleece of wild goats collected
from the rocks and bushes on which it is shed in the summer. The Pashmina shawl
is also popular abroad because of the embroidery or Sozni work done on them
using woolen threads and for its softness. Amritsar and Ludhiana from
the state of Punjab are famous for their woolen blankets.
The northeastern regions of India also have wool weaving traditions of their
own. The people of the Nubra valley in the Ladakh region weave traditional
woolen blankets. Himachal Pradesh is known for its Kullu shawls and traditional
headgear which are decorated with rich colours and geometric patterns.
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