In Lhasa suppression continues with tanks and military vehicles patrolling every corner of the city. Former political prisoners and suspected Tibetans (those politically active) living in the Lhasa area are being arbitrarily arrested in the ongoing house-by-house raid by Chinese security forces since the evening of 15th March 2008.
In desperation for complete crackdown, Chinese authorities are also arresting the family members of former long-time political prisoners (if they themselves are not physically present). [More] Please sign the Avaaz petition.
1919 - 2007
"I don't know if I particularly want to be remembered for anything. I have enjoyed great satisfaction from my climb of Everest and my trips to the poles. But there's no doubt, either, that my most worthwhile things have been the building of schools and medical clinics. That
has given me more satisfaction than a footprint on a mountain."
We note with regret the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary, a great adventurer and greater philanthropist. Beginning with Bridges-PRTD, we have been following a path of conservation and sustainable development blazed by the New Zealand beekeeper. In 2003, after organizing the Namche Conference: People, Park, and Mountain Tourism, we founded Mountain Legacy, an NGO based in Nepal. One of our first projects was the initiation of the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal, awarded "for remarkable service in the conservation of culture and nature in remote mountainous regions." Anyone interested in contributing to or collaborating on our development efforts is urged to contact us at sunrisepashmina@gmail.com.
We use DHL!: For orders originating from Nepal, we ship by DHL. We charge a flat $14.50 per order (per address, of course). (Yes, we do lose money on the shipping!)
(More...)
Actually, we're not really crazy about losing money. So, we're setting a minimum order level: $50, exclusive of shipping and tax. We do apologize for the inconvenience. However, perhaps you'll consider ordering a second muffler as a back-up, or a long-overdue gift to someone you haven't spoiled for a while. (Yourself?)
Newsflash (Pret-a-what???): Sunrise Pashmina now has a ready-to-wear option for the convenience of those who can't afford to wait a week or two for a custom-made order. These are all new pieces, complete with free faux-silk totes and earrings, and backed by our full guarantee, just like the made-to-order pieces. Check out the scrumptious new ombres.
Don't miss these...
Do you get the Pashmina Spamina, our e-mail bulletin? You should. It's got the latest on what's happening behind the scenes at Sunrise, plus sales info and even a small coupon for the diligent reader.
Ombre dying --two colors faded into each other from opposite ends of the piece. Only $7.50 more than regular solid color dying. See our ombre page and extensive ombre photo gallery.
Currency conversions. All prices on this Web site are in U.S. Dollars. For conversion calculations, try xe.com.
Photo page. We've added quite a few new shots, and organized them according to theme (plain, embroidered, jacquard, beaded, ombre). Empar, who posed under substantial duress!) wants to point out that she was not really fat -- just pregnant. On Nov. 24, 2004, Empar gave birth to a 7 lb. 15 oz. girl. Photos of Liana Alos.
Wedding page. If you have content suggestions, photos, or maudlin narratives that you would like to share with those for whom the bells will soon be tolling, please forward them to us.
Cross-links. Sunrise Pashmina would like to post links to the Web sites of our friends. Reciprocal links are appreciated, but not required.
Current Specials Note: [Except as noted] discounts cannot be combined. If more than one discount seems applicable, we will make sure you get the best price.
So-called Bridal Discount -- 10% off regular [low!] prices and free express mail shipping for orders over $300 which include at least three identical shawls. And of course, free earrings and mini-purses with each shawl.
Note: Although this offer was inspired by the special needs of bridal parties, it is definitely available to the non-betrothed.
We have to charge 4% sales tax on orders that are shipped to New York State. Sorry.
Our checkout software cannot make adjustments for some types of price modifications such as the 10% Bridal Discount. This is not a huge problem: your payment will be processed after we review your order, check for
mistakes in shipping selection, and make all adjustments for discounts, credits, and so on;
if you have given us a [functioning!] email address, we will confirm all details of your order within a few hours. Payment will not be processed until the item is ready for shipment.
About the colors: you can order any color you want. If you want a color that is not on our menu, write it in the ordering instructions box. We do have two color charts which theoretically show some of the available colors, but the accuracy of online representation is poor. The same is true of all online colors... you can't trust them. Order a color that you know from real life: we'll know it, too. Probably.
Sunrise Pashmina cannot be responsible for customs duty assessed on your order. Less than 0.03% of our shipments have been held up for customs, generally extremely small fees. Please let us know if you have special instructions that you wish us to follow in order to minimize the risk of customs scrutiny as the package enters your country.
Sunrise Pashmina wants you to be absolutely satisfied with your purchase. If by some horrible misfortune you are not, please contact us before returning your purchase. And above all, do not return anything to Tsering in Kathmandu -- the customs duty is more than the retail value of the item, so it is a total loss for us. Instead, we will give you directions for returning your purchase to our New York office.
Bad news: there are at least five grades of "pashmina" yarn out there, and MOST of the stuff being exported from Nepal and India these days is sub-standard. Sure, the wool is shorn from the same Capra hircus (which, after all, is just the domestic goat, but habituated to life at Himalayan altitudes), but the whole point of "pashmina" is that it's supposed to be only the finest hairs - plucked from the throat and upper chest region of the goat. The fact is, there's not much of it, and it costs 10 times what you'd pay for yarn made from the coarser back and shoulder hairs. And that's how some pashmina purveyors manage to cut their prices.
Of course, there are other ways of fleecing customers: mechanical looms instead of human weavers, or cheaper dyes (or dyers who don't use fresh chemicals for each batch).
Not that it proves anything... but you can get a closer look at Sunrise Production on our expanded About Pashmina page.
So... how can you be sure you're getting the best? Feel it! If you're not shocked by the softness, it's not the best.
Curious about pashmina? Tsering takes you behind the scenes in our new About Pashmina page.
Ordering a customized shawl or muffler?
A few tips:
First, select the base item, whether a shawl or muffler, on the Order page.
When you are in the checkout process, you will be able to specify what customization you require in the "Ordering Instructions" textbox. (Don't forget to specify thread and bead color!)
Our shopping cart cannot calculate the charges for customization: the "receipt" generated at the end of your transaction is not definitive. The true cost will be confirmed by email soon after we get your order.
If there is any question as to what exactly you intended to order, we will delay processing your payment until the issue has been clarified.
Two-ply? One-ply?? Pashmina shawls can be produced with heavier ("doubled") threads.... It seems that these days almost everybody who orders the 70/30 or 50/50 blends wants two-ply, which has a more posh feel; so we have made that the default. You can still order single-ply... just specify it in the "ordering instructions" box. There is no extra charge, either way. In 100%, the standard is still the single-ply, which is on the gauzy side, so that remains the default. Two-ply is available, but it seems kind of weird. But hey, if you have a tendency toward hypothermia, it might be just what the doctor ordered!
Shipping
Delivery Time We are VERY fast! From the time we receive your order, it normally takes only one or two days for us to ship... EXCEPT: if we get the order just before or during the weekend or some official Nepali holiday... or if you order embroidery or beads... which can take up to four days for the fanciest stuff. But, generally speaking, your order will be at the express mail window within 24 hours, and from that point delivery takes about 5 days.
Remember that you are dealing with the express mail services of Nepal and of your country. Some countries do not have express mail conventions with Nepal; for these, we use only DHL. For more details, see our Shipping page.
About returns...
Open the package!
We don't mean to whine, but some types of returns are particularly painful to us. Recently a customer ordered two shawls, which turned out to be the wrong color, so she returned them. We immediately sent out replacements, but she sent back those, too. Turns out she only peaked inside the paper, saw the fancy (free) bags we package the shawls in, and thought those were the shawls themselves. Oy veh!
Well, if you've been reading the fan mail (see letter below), you know all about our fancy bags. Maybe we should put a picture on this Update page. Just remember: What you see is not what you get! Or... not all that you get. How about: You can't judge a pashmina by it's cover?
If you do have to return something, we are not going to lay a guilt trip on you. Please, call or email us for a return authorization code. If you are located in the United States, send your order to us, insured, in one of those free Priority Mail boxes you get at the post office, to:
Sunrise Pashmina 511 W. Green St.
Ithaca, NY 14850 USA
Definition of pashmina (vs. cashmere and shahtoosh); one-ply, double-ply; blends; ring shawl
Issues of quality and pricing
Dimensions
Colors
Discounts, shopping cart, and other money matters
Shipping
Sunrise guarantee; return policy
Gift certificates
Wholesale
You've got to check out our Fan Mail page!!! Some of those letters are just delicious. But ... are they real? Or did we write them ourselves??? Well, we think we're pretty handy with words, but if you stop to think what a pain in the butt it would be dream up all these letters ... even though there are some recurring themes ... who on Earth would have time?
I just received my order, thank you very much. It came so quickly and was in
such beautiful packaging. Everyone in my office was crowding around my desk
wondering who I know in Nepal. Unfortunately for me today it is 80 degrees
outside! That is a Bay Area indian summer for you. I will have to wait a
little longer before I have a need for my lovely pashmina. I am looking
forward to many years of use.
LK
My pashmina has just arrived, and I wanted to let you know that
it is beautiful and exactly what I wanted. I shall definitely be ordering at least one more.
The parcel that arrived is the most exciting piece of mail I have
ever received, and ever expect to receive. The way it was wrapped
and packed, finishing with that amazing fabric envelope - well,
I have never experienced anything like it.
Thank you so much.
CMcA
Hi Empar
I just got the package today....at home without any aggravation at
all....Your shawls are exquisite and it is always a joy to get one of your
packages , the bags , the gifts , everything is perfect ( even the stamps ,
I loved them!!!).Thank you very much for everything and please keep me
posted of the specials , I can never have enough of pashminas....
Warmest regards
SA
Dear Empar, Seth & Tsering,
I received my shawls this morning and they are
absolutely PERFECT!!! I've purchased shawls from
other companies before and I must say that yours
are
the best quality and best value. Not only are your
shawls softer and warmer, but they are also larger
and
less expensive than other full size shawls I've
ordered.
It has to be mentioned that your "freebies" are
wonderful too! The purse that the shawl came in is
beautiful, and the earrings you included are lovely
as
well. I purchased these shawls for my bridesmaids
and
I just can't wait to see their faces when they open
them!
Finally, your customer service gets a 10+. Each of
you were courteous, helpful and quick to respond to
my
many questions. I had no hesitation when placed my
order and in less than a week I had my shawls.
I will definately be ordering from you again.
Otherwise I will be jealous that all my friends
have
one of your shawls and I don't! These are the
PERFECT
gift! (Best of all, the full package looks like it
cost much more than it did!)
Kudos to Sunrise Pashmina / Bridges-PRTD!!!
Sincerely,
LS
Aberdeen, New Jersey
P.S. Best of luck to you with your project,
Bridges-PRTD!
Dear [LS],
[yada-yada-yada]
Empar
p.s. Have a magnificent wedding day!
Let us know your bridesmaids' reaction, okay?
Empar,
I will definately let you know their reaction (but
you'll have to wait until December!) They could only
like or love them! Unlike many other gifts I've
received as a bridesmaid, which were only appropriate
to use or wear at that particular wedding and in that
particular bridesmaid gown, these can be used again
and again. I feel these shawls are a unique idea, and
I'm glad I found your company to buy them from! What
a pleasure it has been!
Here's a suggestion from Laura, the Party Secretary of Seth's high school class (JFK High School, Plainview, NY):
Let this be your good deed for today... it only takes a second.
Go to the site below and simply click a button and a woman gets
a free mammogram at no cost to you. It is paid for by corporate
sponsors (who gain advertising in the process because you see
their logo.) All you do is go to the site and click on the "DONATE
FREE MAMMOGRAMS, Click Here" button. You are only allowed
one donation so please pass the word.
Did you know that "posh" is an acronym for "port outbound, starboard home"? When people traveled by boat from England, around Africa, to India, they liked to see the land; so, on the way to India, berths facing the left ("port") were more expensive, but on the return trip the right ("starboard") side of the ship was preferred. "Pashmina," on the other hand, derives from the Persina pashm, meaning "wool," which was applied to various weavable hairs, including goat, sheep, and antelope.
Yookta Mookhey, Miss World, in pashmina!
Sunrise Pashmina is owned by Tsering Choekyap Sherpa.
