What Determines the Price of an Orenburg Down Shawl

When you first visit the website of an official down shawl producer, it is quite hard to understand the principles of pricing. We receive many questions about why, for example, items in the same category and of the same size can cost differently.

In our short guide we will try to explain how exactly the price of an Orenburg down shawl is formed and help you choose an item in the future.

The first thing to understand is that Orenburg down shawls, regardless of other factors, are fine and complex work taking from dozens of hours to two months; moreover, they are made from a unique scarce raw material. For this reason a genuine down shawl cannot be cheap; it is an axiom. All the “bargains” for 500 and 1,500 roubles are fakes by definition. Fakes that devalue Orenburg shawls in every sense. Our website has a separate article on how to tell a fake Orenburg down shawl. Here we will talk only about genuine items and the principles of their pricing.

Do not worry: the range of down products from Orenburg today is very wide, and practically any buyer can find what they are looking for. The price range also offers solutions for practically any budget, from the most inexpensive options for those just getting to know the Orenburg down shawl to luxurious items with the most complex ornaments made by renowned craftswomen at one a year.

So, the main pricing factors.

Entirely handmade or with a knitting machine

One of the most important factors, which hardly needs comment. It is a mistake to think that absolutely all Orenburg down shawls are made entirely by hand. Among the models there are also those made with partial use of a knitting machine, which a conscientious producer honestly warns about.

This does not affect the quality of the items and in no way makes them worse; moreover, this approach ensures the perfect geometry of the pattern, which only a very experienced craftswoman can achieve by hand. Most often the knitting machine is used to make the centre of the shawl, while the border and edging are done by hand.

Of course, since entirely handmade work requires more experience and takes much more time, it is valued more highly. Anyway, handwork in any industry is always valued, if only because it is prestigious.

In conclusion, an entirely handmade Orenburg down shawl will cost more than an equivalent made with a knitting machine (of course, we are not comparing a small handmade 100 by 100 cm gossamer shawl with a 160 by 160 shawl; other factors come into play here).

Size

The size of an Orenburg down shawl also plays a significant role in pricing. Besides the complexity of the work, the amount of raw material used must be taken into account. Despite all the efforts of enthusiasts to multiply the population of these unique animals, Orenburg goat down still remains a scarce and expensive material, and its consumption is inevitably included in the final cost of the item. Again, the production method factor mentioned above will play its role: an entirely handmade large shawl will cost more.

Complexity of the ornament

This is usually visible to the naked eye. It is as obvious a factor as the previous two and hardly needs detailed explanation.

The more varied the pattern of an Orenburg down shawl, the more combinations the fabric contains, the more complex the work and, accordingly, the higher the price. Imagine how hard it is to maintain an ornament in a single style by hand, to keep the stitches from “wandering” and to create a perfect design whose identical parts are as alike as twins.

Different elements differ from each other in complexity, and their combinations are truly delicate work. If you want to understand this in more detail, we have a more detailed analysis of the basic patterns of the Orenburg down shawl.

Knitting density

Now we come to the less obvious factors.

In general, it should be said that knitters have their own “SI system” for measuring down shawls, with the number of stitches taken as the unit. For better understanding: in large handmade items the stitches number in the hundreds of thousands. And yes, every one is knitted by hand.

Naturally, the higher the knitting density, the higher the number of stitches. To see this, you need to examine the item closely and carefully. The ideal work is considered to be one where the stitch width is minimal and they simply cannot be made out at a glance. By the way, this sign can also be used to recognise a fake: loose and uneven stitches are a warning sign.

By the way, the distance between rows also affects the density, appearance and, of course, the price of a down item. This largely depends on whether the craftswoman knits on thin or thick needles. Of course, work done with thin needles is considered jewel-like.

How the down is obtained

There are three ways to obtain Orenburg goat down: shearing, combing and hand plucking.

In our products we use the last two, but on the Orenburg down shawl market there are also items from sheared down. This method is simplified compared to combing and, even more so, hand plucking; however, a shawl knitted from sheared down will not be of low quality — it is still an Orenburg shawl.

This factor is not the first one that comes to mind; moreover, hardly anyone will tell you how the down was obtained, especially since it is sometimes difficult to tell even for a professional, but it would be wrong not to include it in this guide.

The craftswoman

This factor is rather a generalising one, but no less important. After all, only a very experienced craftswoman with long experience can make a real masterpiece worthy of (and sometimes part of) museum collections and recognised with serious awards. The cost of such an item will be significant, but it really is worth it, because it is a masterpiece without any exaggeration.

It should also be said that among knitters there are quite renowned dynasties known to everyone who has ever come into contact with the craft. They are, if you like, the couturiers of the Orenburg down shawl world. Such craftswomen value their work highly and absolutely deservedly.

In our production every signature item is made by only one craftswoman, who also writes her wishes for the future buyer, which makes such a shawl a ready-made idea for an original gift.

Conclusion

We have figured out what affects the price of down products from Orenburg.

In conclusion, it should be said that every Orenburg down shawl, large or small, knitted entirely by hand or partly with a knitting machine, with a complex ornament or a simple uniform pattern, is still a work of folk art. And in this diversity everyone will find something for themselves or for the person they want to give an unusual and warm gift. We are an official producer of Orenburg down shawls, and we are ready to offer options for any budget and almost any request.