Ahilya Cashmere Scarves are Among the Finest, in More Ways than One
Filed under: Apparel

Manuela Moollan's ahilya scarves take their name from an 18th century Indian queen, Ahilya Bai Holkar, who was graced with the title of goddess and called "The Philosopher Queen" for her benevolent rule and municipal gifts. Moollan's scarves, however, are products of Kasmir -- which is to say, they're cashmere.
But not just any scarves and not just any cashmere. To paraphrase the deliciously delivered education Vesper gave to Bond: "There are scarves, and there are scarves. ahilya is the latter." The throats and underbellies of Kashmiri goats are combed for threads that are twelve to fourteen micrometers thick, the standard of the most exemplary woven wools and cashmere. It would take seven of those fibers to equal the thickness of a human hair. The fibers are then hand spun, hand woven, and hand dyed. There are no mechanical processes in their creation -- you know, kind of like the way the finest things have been made since before the days of Sanskrit.
ahilya offers five collections, from the for-kids Tumble line of blankets and smaller scarves (kids love goats, you know), to the diamond weave Touch, to the diaphanous Ethereal. For the ornate, look no further than Lace, which pairs a Chantilly or Calais trim to the woven body of the scarf. And for the ultimate, there's the obviously-named Ultimate collection if you think leafed gold or silver thread will help keep you warmer, or at least better looking. When you're ready to wear a scarf, you can find ahilya online starting at about €215 ($318 U.S.).
Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
Can You Guess This Famous Face?
The Money Man Behind Rick Santorum: Who Is Foster S. Friess?
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Savings Experiment: Snow Removal
Tips for flying cheaper in 2012
It's Pink!
James Sturm Boycotts 'The Avengers' Film over Marvel's Treatment of Jack Kirby
Alleged Squatters Found With Drugs, Handgun, Grenades, Pig
There's only one thing to do when the Nürburgring is covered in snow...