A versatile handcrafted winter accessory, that will always be cherished for its soft warmth and unique appeal. The extreme cold winters of Himachal have necessitated wool weaving that has evolved into distinct craft forms for each of these states. Nearly every household in Himachal and Uttaranchal owns a pit-loom and wool is considered as pure and also used as a ritual cloth. The well-known woven object is the shawl ranging from fine pashmina to the coarse ‘Desar’ in striking patterns and vibrant colors. There are Central Asian, Rajputana and Tibetan influences in the handloom of Himachal Pradesh. Wool is obtained from migratory mountain goats, angora rabbits, and sheep bred in farms.