MFAH explores global history of Kashmir shawls in new exhibition

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) has unveiled 'From Persia to Paisley: Global Luxury and the Kashmir Shawl,' featuring a unique collection of 20 shawls, sashes, and fragments. This exhibition, located in the Hossein Afshar Art of the Islamic Worlds Galleries, will be accessible until November 29. It explores the journey of these handwoven textiles, crafted from pashm—the delicate underhair of Himalayan goats—transforming into a luxury item across regions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Highly sought after in India, Iran, Africa, and Europe, Kashmir shawls ignited artistic dialogue and propelled global textile industries. The exhibition also showcases paintings illustrating the impact of a single textile on global fashion, industrial advancement, and collecting preferences in Asia, Africa, Europe, and America.