February 06, 2000

Shawls of Pavlovsky Posad


Shawls of Pavlovsky Posad

During the 1800s, various manufacturing centers developed in western Russia. Many of these centers became known for a single item which they continue to produce today. One example is the metalworks at Tula, manufacturing home of the Russian version of the samovar. Another popular and more practical favorite among foreigners are the shawls of Pavlovsky Posad. Since the 1860s, these large (ca. 146 cm square) woolen shawls have been best known for their vibrant colors and bold designs. From a land not known for high fashion and which many Westerners think is filled with gray clad babushkas, the Pavlovsky Posad shawls come as quite a surprise. The shawls are worn by women of all ages.

The designs are reminiscent of traditional peasant costume but urban and rural women alike enjoy the benefits of this light-weight, cozy accessory.

Pavlovsky Posad is an ancient Russian town about sixty kilometers from Moscow, widely known as the home of hereditary textile workers. The Textile Finishing Factory has been creating shawls since 1795. The secret dye formulas were created by various artisans and have been passed down through generations of textile craftsmen at Pavlovsky.

The Pavlovsky designs are so distinctive and popular that they have been mimiced or outright copied throughout the world. A true Pavlovsky shawl is of such artistic quality that the flower, vegetable and ornamental patterns are quite realistic and take on a three-dimensional effect. The deep, rich and vibrant colors are almost impossible to duplicate and, when compared side by side, the true Pavlovsky shawl is easy to identify.

Every year the Pavlovsky textile plant produces 200 types of shawls made from all natural fibers such as wool, cotton and silk. In the world of Russian folkart, these shawls are prized for the artistic and cultural value.

Each shawl begins with a design created by a team of artists and approved by the company's Art Council. This council is made up of the factory's top artisans and experts from the regional Ministry of Culture and Moscow's council on folk arts. Once a design is approved, it is turned over to the colourists who select and create the dyes which will be unique to this design. Dye, like paint, does not present its true color until it applied to whatever material is to be used, processed and dried. The colourist must make several test shawls before finding the perfect combination of dyes for any given design.

Next, the design is transferred to the fabric. The popular woolen shawls are woven from fine fleece wool by the factory's weavers. The result is a soft, light-weight product that is durable and a welcome shield against the cool night air. Originally, designs were hand printed onto the shawl fabric using wooden blocks. Today, the Pavlovsky factory makes use of an automated screen print process. The charm of the Pavlovsky shawl is its generous hand tied fringe which will never be done by machine.

The Pavlovsky factory is unique because it carefully maintains cultural traditions while utilizing the most modern technical and scientific processes. It was the first in the world to use the ecologically conscious plasma chemical treatment on its fabrics prior to printing instead of chlorination.

Pavlovsky shawls are available through a variety of shops and on-line merchants. Better still, you can obtain your shawl(s) directly from the Pavlovsky Posad Shawl factory without leaving home.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955