Showing posts with label Pashmina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pashmina. Show all posts

Friday, 23 June 2023

An Exercise in Time Preference: Pashminas, Bitcoin, and the Benefits of Planning Ahead

A renowned economist and author, Saifedean Ammous, has significantly popularised a concept that I believe is instrumental in understanding our relationship with time, consumption, and investment: time preference. This concept is also a key principle in the realm of Bitcoin and is fundamental to understanding why planning ahead and delaying gratification can significantly benefit us. 

High time preference refers to the desire for immediate satisfaction — the "live for the moment" attitude, which often leads to rash decisions, while low time preference denotes a willingness to delay gratification, opting for greater rewards in the future. When it comes to economic decisions, our level of time preference plays a crucial role in shaping our future.

Delaying Gratification: A Worthy Pursuit

The benefits of delaying gratification are many, encompassing personal finance, consumption habits, and even our overall quality of life. By restraining the urge for immediate satisfaction, we can save for bigger, more valuable investments and build a strong financial base. As economist Thomas Sowell aptly said, "The future is purchased by the present". Delaying gratification, therefore, is the ticket to securing a prosperous future.

This principle applies in many aspects of life, including our consumption habits. It's not just about buying the latest gadget or car; it's also about the clothes we wear. One fine example is purchasing a pashmina from Mypashmina.co.uk.

In the summer months, pashminas might seem like an unnecessary luxury. After all, who needs a warm, soft scarf when the sun is shining, and temperatures are high? Yet, when winter arrives, and you're faced with the chill of the early morning commute or an evening stroll, you might regret not buying one when you had the chance — and at a discounted price, no less.

Planning Ahead with Pashminas and Bitcoin

Mypashmina.co.uk offers a 15% discount on their exquisite range of pashminas during the summer. This discount provides an opportunity for those with low time preferences to plan ahead. By buying pashminas in summer, you are essentially investing in your comfort and style for the winter, while also enjoying the financial benefits of a discounted purchase.

A perfect counterpart to this low time preference approach is the use of Bitcoin as a payment method. Much like planning for the winter by purchasing a pashmina in the summer, Bitcoin users often show a low time preference by choosing to invest in a currency that isn't immediately spendable like fiat money.

Bitcoin, in its essence, encourages a low time preference by rewarding those who hold onto their investments instead of immediately spending or trading them. This digital currency is a testament to the power of delaying gratification. Since its inception, Bitcoin has proven that those willing to hold onto their assets for a longer term often reap significant financial benefits. Moreover, the decentralised nature of Bitcoin offers more control over your financial assets, making it an attractive option for long-term planning.

But the incentives don't stop there. Mypashmina.co.uk offers an even bigger discount when you pay with Bitcoin. Thus, not only do you save money by buying in advance of winter, but you also gain additional savings by using Bitcoin as your mode of payment.

High Time Preference or Low: A Matter of Choice

Our preferences, high or low, are ultimately a reflection of our values and life strategies. However, choosing a low time preference – delaying gratification and planning ahead – often leads to better financial stability, smarter investments, and, ultimately, greater satisfaction.

So, as the summer sun shines down upon us, consider the months ahead. A warm, soft pashmina might be

Investing in Long-term Comfort and Fashion

Let's delve deeper into the example of a pashmina. A pashmina is not merely a piece of fabric; it is an investment in longevity, practicality, and style. Crafted from the finest materials, a pashmina scarf isn't a fast-fashion item that goes out of style within a season. It is a timeless piece, designed to endure, both in terms of physical durability and aesthetic appeal.

From a purely practical perspective, a pashmina offers warmth in the colder months 

and serves as a stylish accessory when the temperatures rise. Its versatility makes it a staple wardrobe item that can accompany you throughout the year. It transitions easily from a cosy wrap in the winter to a cool, lightweight shawl in the summer evenings. It's a go-to accessory that can add a dash of elegance to any outfit.

Moreover, a pashmina scarf exemplifies the philosophy of buying less but buying better. In a world increasingly conscious of the impacts of consumerism, investing in quality pieces that outlive fleeting trends is a powerful statement. A well-crafted pashmina is a declaration of your commitment to sustainable fashion and an investment in a product that respects our environment, our artisans, and the artistry of craftsmanship.

The Pashmina-Bitcoin Parallel

The longevity and value of a quality pashmina scarf draw a compelling parallel with the nature of Bitcoin. Bitcoin, like a pashmina, is an asset that grows more valuable with time. While its value can fluctuate in the short term, it has consistently appreciated over the long term.

Both pashminas and Bitcoin ask us to take a broader view of time. They compel us to look beyond the immediate horizon, the transient seasons and the fluctuating market conditions, and consider the long-term benefits.

When you choose to purchase a pashmina in the heat of summer, you make a decision that aligns with the Bitcoin philosophy. You opt for a durable, lasting asset over a fleeting, temporary one. You choose to invest in your future comfort and style, much like how Bitcoin users invest in their financial future.

The Win-Win Situation: Pashminas, Bitcoin, and Discounts

Mypashmina.co.uk makes this decision even more advantageous by offering a 15% summer discount, (use code WEDDINGGLOW23 until 31st July)  a figure that climbs even higher when using Bitcoin as a payment method. This creates a win-win situation that embodies the essence of low time preference. You secure a timeless, practical garment at a reduced cost and further maximise your savings by using a currency that appreciates over time.

15% off pashminas until end of July

Moreover, buying a pashmina with Bitcoin during summer not only offers you a financial advantage but also aligns with a thoughtful, forward-looking approach. It resonates with a philosophy that values patience, planning, and the anticipation of future needs and desires.

A Matter of Choice: The Intersection of Comfort, Style, and Finance

In conclusion, our time preferences, be they high or low, are reflections of our life strategies. Yet, choosing a low time preference—buying a pashmina in the summer and paying with Bitcoin—can lead to impressive benefits. It allows for better financial management, smarter investments, and overall greater satisfaction in the long run.

So, as we enjoy the warmth of summer, let us also consider the cooler months ahead. Investing in a quality pashmina now not only promises future comfort and style but also presents an opportunity for smart saving, especially when paired with the power of Bitcoin. Planning ahead has never been so elegantly rewarding.

If you read this far then here is the gem. 50% off when paying with Bitcoin.

Recommended Reading



Monday, 30 November 2020

International Christmas Posting Dates


Pile of pashminas

Hello everybody !

 I have just received this update from Royalmail.

If you live outside the UK and you will be ordering cashmere, please try to order in good time for Christmas.

We can always use UPS or one of the other couriers for your pashminas. In that case it is possible to get it almost anywhere in the world in about 4 days.

Christmas 2020 - Latest recommended posting dates for our International Standard Services  

Dear Paul,

International Standard including International Tracked & Signed services - Latest recommended posting dates
DateDestination
Monday 7 DecemberBFPO mail to Static HM Forces
Wednesday 9 DecemberAfrica, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East
Thursday 10 DecemberCanada, Cyprus and Malta
Friday 11 DecemberGreece, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and Turkey

To help plan your Christmas posting well in advance, our next latest recommended posting dates are:

International Standard including International Tracked & Signed services - Latest recommended posting dates
DateDestination
Saturday 12 DecemberCzech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden and USA
Wednesday 16 DecemberAustria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland

* Please note: latest recommended posting dates are correct at the time of sending, but may be subject to change due to the impact of Coronavirus.   (excuses! excuses!)

Monday, 30 March 2020

Special Offer (FREE pashmina) and effect of COVID-19 on sales

Wow! Sales down 90% compared to the same week last year. Anyone experiencing similar ?

I know many have lost a job so are experiencing a 100% drop in their sales.

In our case, maybe it's partly caused by the lovely warm weather!

So, in partnership with HammockHeaven, we are offering a FREE pashmina scarf (worth up to £39) when you buy any of this years 10 new hammock designs. This offer is available until the end of lock down . Just write which pashmina scarf you would like in the comments box when you complete your purchase.

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Do You Like Our Pashmina Pop Video ?



So ?  Did you like it ?

The loom shown is a Jacquard loom. All the threads are set up and tied to heavy weights to keep them straight and tight. Then the weaving begins.

Each time the shuttle is pushed across, the holes in the jacquard cards mean that a different selection of the stretched yarns are raised or lowered. This makes each row of the fabric individual, which builds up a pattern row by row.

The little boy in the video is my son. He is playing with a wheel which is for hand spinning the cashmere which is found in the angelweave stoles. Hand-spun cashmere is uneven, extremely soft and looks great as well.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to ask.

Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Nadiya Hussain for You Magazine, by photographer Rachell Smith & stylist Anna Fordham

Nadiya Hussain wearing Mypashmina
Photographer: Rachell Smith  - Stylist: Anna Fordham -  Headscarf by Mypashmina.co.uk 

The people at YOU Magazine have been doing a photoshoot of Nadiya Hussain wearing some high quality pashminas from MYPASHMINA as head scarfs.

In 2015, Nadiya Hussain was a winner of  'The Great British Bake Off ' - A competitive cooking show on British state TV.

She was a very popular and much loved contestant and was many also loved the stylish headscarfs she wore due to her religion.

YOU magazine wrote an interesting article about her life tribulations and also made some beautiful photos.

This is her new book. It looks very inspirational.



"'A revelatory honest read . . . She writes with clear-eyed insight . . . There's no doubt that the book will make an impact and enable young girls to question the boxes society places them in and to dream bigger than the previous generation thought possible.' YOU Magazine"






Wearing a pashmina on the head in this style is a great idea. It looks fantastic and also keeps your head warm. We also love the choice and use of colours in these pictures.

Photographer: Rachell Smith - http://www.rachellsmith.com
Stylist: Anna Fordham
Creative Director: Natasha Tomlin Hall - https://www.natashatomalinhall.com/


Nadiya Hussain wearing a pashmina by MYPASHMINA
Headscarf by Mypashmina.co.uk

Nadiya Hussain wearing a pashmina by MYPASHMINA
Headscarf by Mypashmina.co.uk






Tuesday, 1 October 2019

A Customer Photo



What a lovely photo from one of our customers. The pashmina looks great. Oozes quality.




"I love my Teal pashmina. I have got many compliments since it goes so well with so many of my outfits. ... here is a photo of me trying it on for first time."




This is a classic pashmina stole - 70% Cashmere / 30% Silk. More like this can be found here.


I removed the background from the original, In case you were wondering! 

I can officially announce that Mypashmina no longer needs to hire models.



Tuesday, 12 March 2019

Shawl - A History in 7 Interesting Sections

Shawl

The shawl is an important and interesting part of human history and culture. In this guide we will take a look at the origins of the shawl, how it is used and some of the many types that are available today.

The Origins Of The Shawl

A shawl is simply a woven rectangle of fabric. People have been weaving fabrics for a long time.
The earliest evidence found to date comes from fabric imprints in clay which are about 27000 years old. They were found in the Czech Republic. The article didn’t say where, but I am assuming Pavlov.
Pavlov I in southern Moravia is the most complete and complex Gravettian site to date, and a perfect model for a general understanding of Gravettian culture. Gravettian peoples stretched from Russia to Spain from 29000 to 22000 years ago.
A detailed examination of the impressions reveals a large variety of weaving techniques. There are open and closed twines, plain weave and nets. Twining can be done by hand but plain weave needed a loom. A plain weave piece of fabric could have been a shawl. We will get on to how they might have been used later.

A ring shawl from Mypashmina. Made from 100% Cashmere and 60 count fine guage yarn.



If you prefer to listen to this article, then play this video.

It may be that many stone artifacts found in settlements may not be objects of art as had been supposed but parts of an ancient loom, which should now be considered as the first machine to be made after the wheel and aids such as the axe, club, and flint knife.
The academic who studied this claims that the evidence of net making implies that women were catching foxes with them. Seems like a bit of a leap of faith to fit a cultural marxist feminist agenda, but interesting nonetheless.

History and Etymology for Shawl

The word shawl first appeared in English in 1662. I can’t find the exact source of this, but I assume it came in to use due to trade with Persia or India.
The word comes from the From Persian شال‎ (šâl). It is similar to the Sanskrit शाटी (śāṭī). Some sources claim the word originated in the 14th century. The oversimplified version of that story is that a persian man travelled to Ladakh and made a shawl.
It appears that from quite early on, that a shawl was more than just a regular wrap. It was something more prestigious, and linked to higher quality yarns such as cashmere. Wrap was in English since the early 14th century.

This image came from The North American Indian by Edward S. Curtis. These images were published between 1907 and 1930.

Definition of Shawl

Merriam Webster defines shawl as: a square or oblong usually fabric garment or wrapper used especially as a covering for the head or shoulders.
Wikipedia describes a shawl as : A shawl (from Persianlang-Urdu شال‎ shāl,[1] which may be from Hindiदुशाला duśālā, ultimately from Sanskrit: शाटी śāṭī[2]) is a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, which is often folded to make a triangle, but can also be triangular in shape. Other shapes include oblong shawls.
The cloth can be made from almost any fibre or material. The limit to this is that it should be relatively lightweight. Too thick and it is a blanket.
With regards to size, there is no precise definition. If it is too small it is a cashmere scarf and if it is too big then it would be a throw or blanket.

Types of Shawl

There are many types of shawl. The range of possible materials, designs, sizes, shapes and colours is practically infinite. We will look here at some of the more famous types of shawl.

Embroidered Shawls

Kashmir, in India, is famous for these. However, I have to say that finding a genuine high quality cashmere shawl with genuine silk embroidery is very difficult. Kashmir seems to be full of con men and scammers.

Jacquard Shawls

The jacquard loom was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804.The loom was controlled by a “chain of cards”; a number of punched cards laced together into a continuous sequence. The resulting pattern in the fabric of the shawl catches the light and looks amazing.  We sell two types of jacquard pashminas.

Cashmere Shawls

Cashmere is often associated with shawls. It is really the ideal material. Soft and light and comfortable against the skin. if you take a shawl on a flight it will keep you warm, but will still pack up small enough to fit in your hand luggage easily.

Ways To Use A Shawl

The primary use for a shawl is to cover and keep warm, but there are a couple more ways they can be used.
  1. A baby carry sling. This is a common use in Nepal. A 90x200cm shawl works well enough to carry a baby, either on your side on on your back. In my experience, it is not as comfortable as the long baby carrying slings, but it works fine for short periods of time. I wouldn’t do this with a pure cashmere one, but have done it with a pashmina shawl that is 70% cashmere and 30% silk.
  2. A baby hammock . A hammock is a great place for a baby. It keeps the baby clear of the ground and away from ants. Babies like the rocking motion and find it soothing. A shawl can quickly be turned in to a hammock with some bits of rope tied at the ends. You can hang it under a table. I have done this too 🙂
  3. As a bag. If it works to carry a baby, think what else you could carry. The advantage is that you can lay it flat, fill it with stuff, then fold it up to close it.  I have also done this. I suppose in 17 years of carrying shawls around, occasionally they have to be put to work in the less luxurious ways.

This portrait of Jacquard was woven in silk on a Jacquard loom and required 24,000 punched cards to create (1839). It was only produced to order. Charles Babbage owned one of these portraits; it inspired him in using perforated cards in his analytical engine.[1] It is in the collection of the Science Museum in London, England.

Shawl Manufacturing In The UK

John Kay invented the flying shuttle in 1733.  The flying shuttle used in Nepal today to weave a pashmina shawl, looks identical to the one John Kay invented all those years ago.
John Kay was born in 1704 in Lancashire. He apprenticed with a hand-loom reed maker, but is said to have returned home within a month claiming to have mastered the business. He designed a metal substitute for the natural reed that proved popular enough for him to sell throughout England. 
He continued to design improvements to textile machinery; in 1730 he patented a cording and twisting machine for worsted.
In 1733,  he received a patent for his most revolutionary device: a “wheeled shuttle” for the hand loom. It greatly accelerated weaving, by allowing the shuttle carrying the weft to be passed through the warp threads faster and over a greater width of cloth.  It was designed for the broad loom, for which it saved labour over the traditional process, needing only one operator per loom – rather than two.
Kay always called this invention a “wheeled shuttle”, but others used the name “fly-shuttle” (and later, “flying shuttle”) because of its continuous speed, especially when a young worker was using it in a narrow loom. The shuttle was described as travelling at “a speed which cannot be imagined, so great that the shuttle can only be seen like a tiny cloud which disappears the same instant.”
 But by September 1733 the Colchester weavers, were so concerned for their livelihoods that they petitioned the King to stop Kay’s inventions.
The flying shuttle was to create a particular imbalance by doubling weaving productivity without changing the rate at which thread could be spun,disrupting spinners and weavers alike. A weaver could now make fabric quicker than a spinner could spin the thread for it.
 Also, fly-shuttle use was becoming widespread in weaving, increasing cotton yarn demand and its price – and Kay was blamed.

Suggested Books About The Shawl

Alfrey, Penelope. “The Social Background to the Shawl.” In The Norwich Shawl. Edited by Pamela Clabburn. London: HMSO, 1995.
Clabburn, Pamela, ed. The Norwich Shawl. London: HMSO, 1995.
Journal de la Mode et du Gout. No. 11 (5 June 1790): 1–3.
Lochrie, Maureen. “The Paisley Shawl Industry.” In Scottish Textile History. Edited by John Butt and Kenneth Ponting. Aberdeen, Scotland: Aberdeen University Press, 1987.
Mackrell, Alice. Shawls, Stoles and Scarves. London: B. T. Bats-ford Ltd., 1986.
Morgan, Kenneth O. The Oxford History of Britain. Oxford and New YorkOxford University Press, 1992, 2001.
Pauly, Sarah. The Kashmir Shawl. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 1975.
Perrot, Philippe. Fashioning the Bourgeoisie: A History of Clothing in the Nineteenth Century. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1994.

Thursday, 18 October 2018

Cashmere Sale - 23rd October 8pm

Keep an eye on the SALE page, for some cashmere bargains.
They will be available 8pm on 23rd October.

https://www.mypashmina.co.uk/product-category/clearance-cashmere/

Pashmina and Cashmere SALE

Cashmere Pashminas Customer Comments

Monday, 27 August 2018

Pashminas - today's lovely customer comments

"Absolutely delighted with this lovely stole. Intense colour and lovely, even weave, beautifully soft and just right for these cooler evenings. Drapes beautifully and I’ve received several kind comments on the stole. Excellent quality, quick delivery, wonderful price – I’m delighted. Many thanks."

Pashmina Stole – 70x200cm – 100% Cashmere – Princess Blue

Princess Blue Pashmina - 100% Cashmere3 approved comment


Tuesday, 10 April 2018

Gingham Pashminas - from Mypashmina.co.uk

 Gingham Pashminas

https://www.mypashmina.co.uk/product-category/pashminas/gingham-pashminas/

Brigitte Bardot famously wore a pink gingham dress when she got married. This started a trend which caused a shortage of this fabric in France.

We have 10 colours of Gingham cashmere pashminas in stock. They are 70% cashmere and 30% silk, measuring either 70x200cm or 45x200cm.



A little history.... (from wikipedia)

The name may originate from Malay genggang, meaning 'ajar, separate'.

Alternately, it is speculated that the fabric now known as gingham may have been made at Guingamp, a town in Brittany, France, and that the fabric may be named after the town.

Some sources say that the name came into English via Dutch.

When originally imported into Europe in the 17th century, gingham was a striped fabric, though now it is distinguished by its checkered pattern.

From the mid-18th century, when it was being produced in the mills of Manchester, England, it started to be woven into checked or plaid patterns (often blue and white).

Checked gingham became more common over time, though striped gingham was still available in the late Victorian period.

The equivalent in the French language is the noun vichy, from the town of Vichy in France.