Yaser Shaw
Kashmir, India
Tucked in the sweeping valleys and snow-capped peaks of Kashmir sits Srinagar, a city settled on the lush banks of Lake Dal. Though best known for its ancient architecture, rolling tulip gardens and charming houseboats, Srinagar is also home to one of the world’s most incredible artists, Yaser Shaw. A fifth generation craftsman, Yaser embodies the best in traditional Indian cashmere: elegant, decorative and cloud-like to the touch.
First introduced to the world of fashion by artists Justine and Jeff Koons, Yaser Shaw has been a quiet favorite of collectors for over two decades. He carries on a family legacy of textile art fostered since 1840, centered around traditional Indian cashmere weaving. In doing so, he preserves the techniques native to Kashmir, and ultimately the longevity of the craft.
Balancing the age-old and the contemporary, Yaser Shaw designs his pieces to capture the wildness of the natural world and the intense beauty of Kashmir–a place colloquially referred to as “heaven on earth.” It can take Yaser and his team upwards of two years to complete a single shawl. Each piece is made over 36 stages, starting with the collection and carding of the cashmere wool and ending with the fine hand-embroidery of the final decorative motifs.
