FAQ



Fabrics used in shawls and scarves
Wool fabrics.   As a natural animal product, the quality of wool fabrics depends on the breed of the animal and on where and how it is reared. Superior quality wool is also graded on the basis of which part of the body the fleece is clipped. Fleece from the shoulders and sides of the sheep is said to be superior to that from the belly, breech and head. Main varieties include:
Merino wool is one of the finest grades of wool from Merino sheep, with the best quality produced in Australia.  Lamb’s wool, as the name indicates, is the fine, soft wool from the first shearing of a lamb. Shetland wool is derived from the soft undercoat of Shetland sheep raised in Scotland. Mohair is produced form the Angora goat.   
Man-made fibers, such as viscose or acrylic, are easy to wash and maintain and moth larvae do not feed on them. They can also be soft and fluffy like wool and they are less expensive than good quality wool. However, they are not as resilient as wool and they do not breathe.
Silk:  This luxury fiber is produced for commercial use almost entirely from cocoons produced by the caterpillars of several moth species of the genus Bombyx, commonly called silkworms.  Silk is a continuous filament around each cocoon. It was discovered in China around 2700 BC, and the secret of its production was closely guarded for millennia.   Along with jade and spices, silk was the primary commodity traded along the Silk Road beginning about 100 BC. Since World War II, nylon and other synthetic fibers have replaced silk in many applications, but silk remains an important luxury material for clothing and home furnishings. More than 50% of the world's silk is still produced in China, but India, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are also producers of fine silk on a smaller, cottage industry scale.



What is “pashmina?”
Pashmina comes from pashm, a Persian word for wool.  In Kashmir, it refers to the fine wool fiber produced by the Tibetan mountain goat, capra hircus, used for the best Kashmiri shawls.  The animals, which graze at altitudes above 14,000 feet in the Himalayas, are able to survive the extreme winter temperatures by growing a soft underbelly fleece under their coarse and thick outer hair.  Each goat produces only about 3-5 ounces of pashmina each year, and the average pashmina shawl requires wool from three of more goats and over 200 hours of work. 



How is pashmina produced?
Pashmina-making is a painstaking and labor intensive process done entirely by hand.  Every summer, Himalayan farmers climb the mountains to comb the fine woolen undercoat shed from the neck and chest of, Himalayan mountain goat.  After the pashmina fleece is collected, it is spun on a spinning wheel locally known as “Charkha.”  Hand-spinning requires great patience and dexterity and requires 15 days for a single pashmina shawl.  The resulting fiber is only 14-19 microns in diameter, six or more times thinner than human hair.  As the pashmina yarn is too fragile for the vibration in power looms, the weaving of the traditional pashmina shawls is done on hand looms.  The weaving of the pure pashmina shawls is an art passed down over generations.  The final product is uniquely light and soft, conveys a luxurious sensual feeling, and is exceptionally warm.



What is the difference between pashmina, cashmere, and shatoosh?
Cashmere is the fine fiber produced by all species of goats, except the Angora goat. The leading cashmere producer is China but many other countries, including the United States, have thriving domestic industries growing cashmere.  Pashmina (when properly used) refers to the fiber of the capra hircus goat from fleece combed from the underbelly of capra hircus goat reared in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Mongolia, Kashmir and Central Asia.  Shatoosh refers to shawls from the rare and expensive fiber obtained by killing the Chirrup, a small Tibetan antelope on the endangered species list and banned for trade in many countries, including most of Europe and the U.S. 



How much does a pashmina shawl cost?
The price of a 100% pashmina shawl ranges anywhere from a hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars, depending upon the quality of the yarn, craftsmanship and embroidery and other factors involved in its creation. Pure pashmina is a luxury even in India so local weavers combine the 12-14 micron thick pashmina fiber with silk or angora to improve the durability and add luster to the material.



How do I care for my shawl or scarf?
With proper care, fine woolens and silks are very long-lasting and become softer with age.  The easiest and safest way to care for your shawls and scarves is to have them dry-cleaned, particularly if there are any stains.  With few exceptions, silk and blended fabrics, such as pashmina and silk blends, and any items with fur or other trimmings, should be dry-cleaned only. 
Cashmere and pashmina may also be hand-washed in cool water with a gentle cleanser such as ivory flakes or baby shampoo.  Soak for 5-10 minutes and squeeze clean gently, do not rub or wring. Rinse thoroughly and roll the item in a towel, then lay flat to dry over a towel, away from direct heat and sunlight. If needed, iron under a damp cloth on a low heat setting. Always wash each piece separately. 
Before storing your shawls and scarves ensure they are clean.  Moths don't hunger for the fiber itself, but rather for the food, dirt, perspiration or body oils left on an item. Do not store natural fibers in airtight containers. Most authorities suggest letting them breathe by storing in muslin or silk bags or in acid-free tissue paper. A plastic bag is effective if it is not entirely airtight.   You may also wish to use cloves, lavender, rosemary, thyme, dried orange peel or cedar chips to discourage moths. Place the spices or chips in a cloth sachet or handkerchief and avoid placing them directly on the garment to avoid staining.

What credit cards do you accept?
Items featured in the boutique can be purchased directly from the website by using Pay Pal.  We also accept checks and American Express.  Please contact us if you would like to pay by these means at alix@swanways.com.

What is Swan Ways’ return and exchange policy?
If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase from Swan Ways, return it to us unworn and with tags attached within 10 days or receipt, using the free return label. We will exchange it or provide a refund without delay. We will make every effort to handle refund requests as quickly as possible, and we will advise you by e-mail when this is done.  Please note that the length of time it takes for a refund to appear on your credit card account statement may vary depending on the issuing financial institution.

Shipment and delivery
We ship to locations in the U.S. at no charge Monday through Friday via FedEx from Arlington, Virginia.   We can provide next day delivery in the USA and ship internationally for a fee – see table below.
We will e-mail you a shipping confirmation including the tracking number soon after shipment of your order.

Other terms and conditions
A restocking fee of $25.00 will be assessed for returned items that have been carelessly handled, and this amount will be deducted from the refund total.   We will not issue a refund for items that have been stained or damaged.

For any further details, please email alix@swanways.com.
Tel: 703-969-1688

Alix Sundquist
Please call 703-969-1688 or e-mail alix@swanways.com for a private appointment.

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