The Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) has registered Nepali pashmina’s trademark Chyangra Pashmina in 38 countries within 10 months of launching it. The NPIA has registered Chyangra Pashmina in major markets like the US, Japan, France, Italy and Germany. Recently, Singapore and South Korea have granted approval to the brand.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal unveiled the trademark in January, 2010 after a three-year-long effort . The trademark was essential for Nepal to sell quality pashmina around the globe. The NPIA registered the trademark in Nepal on Oct. 7.
Pashmina products which meet the criteria including use of fibre with a diameter of up to 17 microns and quality of dyeing are eligible to get the trade mark. Similarly, the products should not contain fibres like viscose yarn, acrylic wool, soybean fibre or poly yarn. However, pashmina products with a composition of 70 percent pashmina and 30 percent silk qualify to get the trade mark.
Nepali pashmina is exported to more than 40 countries worldwide. The US, Germany, the UK, Japan, France, Canada, Italy, China, Switzerland and the Netherlands are the top 10 buyers.
Manufacturers and exporters said that establishment of Nepali pashmina’s trademark would help them promote their products and reclaim their lost market.
NPIA chief programme officer Madhu Babu Adhikari said that there had been encouraging response after the NPIA started issuing the collective brand from early this year. However, pashmina exports declined by 17 percent in the fiscal year 2009/10. Nepal exported pashmina worth Rs. 1.32 billion in 2009/10. Exports saw robust growth of 137.3 percent in 2008/09.
Traders have been exporting pashmina products including scarves, shawls, blankets, mufflers and dressing gowns to mainly third countries. Domestic consumption accounts for less than 5 percent of the total output.
