I have always loved pashminas since my first purchase during a stay in Istanbul, around twenty years ago. On the stalls of the Grand Bazaar, I discovered a large variety of stoles called “pashminas”. One of the sellers invited me into his narrow shop, where, hidden from view behind a curtain, he told me the story of real pashmina (a very fine cashmere) and learned to tell the difference from other stoles. "pashminas" in synthetic material, viscose or even wool... I bought my first real pashmina from him, in cashmere pashmina, which I wore a lot and which I still wear.
During my first trip to India, at the very beginning of my boutique project, I had to reconnect with my taste for pashminas through an unexpected encounter.
I was in Pondicherry and we were on the eve of my return to France. I was a little disappointed because I had not found a beautiful craft shop in this enchanting town, despite systematically visiting all the addresses indicated by my guide. I had gone to dine in the vegetarian restaurant near my hotel but as it was crowded, I went in search of these little bananas that I loved from the street vendor on the corner of my street. Not finding it, I decided to venture into the neighboring streets in the hope of finding another; it was there that I made a salutary discovery: the shop of Raju, an Indian originally from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, a mountainous state bordering Nepal and Tibet.
As soon as I entered the door, I was struck by the beauty and serenity that emanated from the place. Behind his stall, the seller served an Indian woman accompanied by her daughter. I asked if I should take off my shoes as tradition dictates and this first contact had to continue for 2 hours after the departure of the two clients. I asked him about his pashminas, he told me about his 24-year journey in textiles, the history of the shop, closed during confinement, which he had saved by deciding to cook and sell takeaway meals in the street ! I discovered a beautiful person with whom I discussed spirituality, work and even the education of children. We became friends and today he is my Pashmina supplier.