The high altitude climate of Himachal Pradesh, locally available wool from reared sheep and goat, and quality pashmina wool from Tibet, has made weaving and spinning important domestic industries in the state. Once popular in Pangna, this craft is slowly dying out unprofitable returns.

The chief products made by the few remaining craftsmen are Kullu and Kinnauri Shawls – characterised by the twill-woven body in the grey, off-white, fawn or brown shades of natural wool and the tapestry woven borders in multicoloured geometrical forms. These patterns and motifs have a variety of names like Patti, Phool and Mandir.

The shawls are woven from two types of thread – ruffle and cashmere – that are soft to the touch and sourced from local markets. Earlier a coarser, warmer wool – per wool – was used to weave simple shawls. But over the years, there has been a gradual shift to more pattern centered and colorful shawls. Per wool continues to be weaved into cloth, but only for the traditional Himachali jackets.