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Pure Himalayan cashmere ponchos and cape shawls in embroidered, buttoned, leather, and plain styles. Free size fits all body types. Handcrafted by Nepali artisans from 12 to 16-micron fibers. 9 styles from $40. Free worldwide shipping on orders over $100.
The nine pieces fall into five groups. Start with how you plan to wear it.
High neck. The High-Neck Button Poncho ($40), a knit style, and the T-shirt Style Funnel Neck Poncho ($135) cover the throat, which makes them the warmest pick for the colder months.
Buttons. The Natural Poncho With Button ($45) is the only piece here sold as a cashmere blend.
Hand embroidery. The Hand-Embroidered Poncho Shawl ($55) and the Side Work Flower Poncho ($65) carry hand needlework along the border, a craft that adds hours to each piece.
Leather trim. The Ladies Leather Poncho and the Striped Leather Poncho Sweater ($55 each) add leather detailing to the cashmere.
The Natural Handloom Cashmere Cape Shawl ($75) is the one open cape. It is woven on a handloom and rests on the shoulder line instead of going over the head.
A poncho is a single garment with a head opening that falls evenly over the front and back. A cape opens down the front, so it goes over a jacket or a tailored dress more easily. Neither has sleeves to fit, which is why one size works across body types, including plus sizes, in a way a cardigan cannot. On a petite frame, the fluid drape falls lower; on a tall frame, the silhouette sits shorter.
|
Measurement |
Ponchos |
Capes |
|
Width, shoulder to shoulder |
130 to 145 cm (51 to 57 in) |
120 to 130 cm (47 to 51 in) |
|
Length, front drop |
70 to 80 cm (27 to 31 in) |
65 to 75 cm (25 to 29 in) |
|
Approximate weight |
150 to 220 g |
130 to 180 g |
Warmer than its weight suggests. We source Grade A cashmere of 12 to 16 microns, combed from the undercoat of Chyangra goats that live above 3,000 metres in the Himalaya. Such fine fiber traps air, so a 200-gram poncho holds warmth close to the body, yet stays breathable indoors. That fineness also creates the softness and keeps high-quality cashmere from feeling itchy: coarse wool fibers prickle against skin, while fibers this fine bend. Read how cashmere grades and micron counts compare.
In spring and autumn, the transitional seasons, wear it on its own over a long-sleeve cotton top. In the colder months, it goes over a sweater and under a winter coat, with a hand-knitted wool hat. It works with jeans, leggings, wide-leg pants, and boots, or for dressing up an evening outfit. For full outfit ideas, see how to style a cashmere poncho.
Every other piece in our capes and ponchos is listed as cashmere yarn. The Natural Poncho With Button is a cashmere blend, chosen for added durability in everyday wear, and its product page lists the fibre. A blend mixes cashmere with another yarn such as wool or silk. It costs less and wears harder, and it gives up a little of the softness of pure cashmere.
Because it is one-size, a poncho for women is one of the few knitwear gifts you can buy without guessing a size. For someone whose wardrobe you do not know well, pick a neutral shade from the palette, such as grey, beige, or white. Plain and neutral pieces are the most timeless; embroidered and leather-trimmed pieces make more of a statement. Pair it with a cashmere shawl or wrap, or one of our wool accessories.
Yes, Helping Hand has made cashmere clothing in Pokhara since 2011. More than 180 artisans work in the workshop, many of them single mothers and differently abled people who trained with us. Each poncho is woven, knitted, embroidered, or finished by hand, so the craftsmanship shows in small irregularities no factory would leave in. Every purchase pays fair, ethical wages and funds the training that brings the next maker in, with no luxury brand markup on top. Meet the makers.
