Most "handmade" scarves you find online aren't. Here's how to spot the real thing in 30 seconds:

1. Check the edges. Machine-made scarves have perfectly uniform selvedge edges. Hand-woven pieces have slight irregularities — that's not a flaw, it's proof a human made it.

2. Look at the weave pattern. Hold it up to light. A hand-woven scarf will have tiny, natural variations in thread tension. Machines don't make those "mistakes."

3. Feel the weight. Authentic Himalayan wool and pashmina have a specific density — they feel warm but never heavy. If it's thick and stiff, it's probably machine-loomed acrylic.

4. Ask about the artisan. Real handmade sellers can tell you who made your piece, where, and how long it took. If they can't, it's factory work with a "handmade" label.

At Himalayan Loom, every scarf ships with a card naming the artisan who wove it. We work directly with weavers in the highlands — no middlemen, no factories.

If you've been burned by fake "handmade" goods before, I get it. That's exactly why I started this.