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CCMI in the News
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Pashmina
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The Cashmere & Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI) has
noted the increased prevalence of shawls and other products bearing the name
“Pashmina.” The Institute has also received a number of inquiries from consumers,
retailers and the media about “pashmina” and the use of the term. We are
therefore issuing this clarifying statement:
Use
of the term “Pashmina” in marketing is inherently ambiguous and therefore
misleading. Pashmina is a term which is derived from an Indian word used
to describe cashmere in India and Nepal. Pashmina is not necessarily finer
than other types of cashmere, nor does it have any distinguishing characteristics
other than those normally associated with cashmere coming from China, Mongolia,
Iran or Afganistan. In its current usage, this is marketing terminology
intended apparently to capitalize on a fad for shawls of a type traditionally
associated with India and Nepal.
The word pashmina itself is not
a legally recognizable term for describing fiber content in European or American
law. If a textile product contains cashmere, the fiber content must be designated
“cashmere” on required labeling. “Pashmina” cannot be used on textile product
labeling in the absence of the legally required terminology.
Recently
the term pashmina has been used to market a range of products from 100% cashmere
to blends of cashmere and silk. The term “pashmina” does not refer to cashmere
and silk. Textile products composed of blends of cashmere and silk fibers
must be labeled with the appropriate percentages of cashmere and silk and
designated as such according to textile and Customs labeling regulations.
Because there is no consistently understood definition of the term
“pashmina,” CCMI regards the use of the term in signage or promotional literature
for cashmere and silk blends, to be misleading. Pashmina is not a descriptive,
generic term. CCMI considers the use of the term “pashmina” on required
garment labels and in the absence of the appropriate designation “cashmere”
to be in violation of labeling regulations and to be misleading to the consumer.
The Institute will take action against such mislabeling.
CCMI has
informed the United States Federal Trade Commission, the US Customs Service
and corresponding authorities in the European Community of its position on
the use of the term pashmina without proper fiber identification and has
asked for appropriate enforcement of the labeling laws at retail and at ports
of entry.
Further questions or concerns may be addressed to me directly
at telephone +(617) 542-7481, by facsimile +(617) 542-2199 or email: cashccmi@aol.com.
Karl Spilhaus
President Cashmere & Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute
Karl Spilhaus
cashccmi@aol.com
Cashmere And Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute
617-542-7481
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