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The Manila shawl is one of the most characteristic complements of Spain. Currently they are used as a clothing accessory by flamenco singers and dancers.
The original Manila shawls are made of natural silk and both the embroidery and the fringes are handmade. The most common embroidered shawls are flowers, birds and vegetation in general, although we occasionally find a shawl embroidered with landscapes.
What differentiates a Manila shawl from another and why do prices vary so much? This is the most common question our clients make and therefore we leave you with a summary on how to recognize the different characteristics and qualities of a Manila shawl:
- Number and extent of embroidery:Â The closer together are the threads and the more embroidery it has, the thicker and smoother will be the picture and therefore it requires more working hours and the artisan would have needed more silk thread in order to make the shawl.
- Drawings:Â The price also varies depending on the difficulty of the drawing. Generally, those with an animal theme for example, may be more expensive because they are more difficult to make.
- Material thickness: The thickness of the silk varies greatly from one shawl to another. The basic shawls have a lighter silk weight and the more professional and elaborate ones carry a higher weight and heavier silk. We can see this by touching the silk between our fingers as well as holding in one hand the shawls and seeing the weight difference between the two.
-Small-mesh grille:Â All gratings of the material are made by artisans therefore, the smaller the grille, more time is needed in order to achieve the desired end result.
 - Fringes: The fringes are usually made out of natural silk threads. The more fringes are used on the shawl, the higher will be the cost.  Especially when the threads are silk which is much more expensive than the conventional threads.
Here we leave you with some recommendations for the proper conservation which we are sure will be of interest to you:
Washing: Shawls should not be washed at home, TAMARA Flamenco always advises to pick a good dry cleaner for a proper final result. In the event that there is a small stain, rub gently with soap with a rag below the shawl. Once it’s dry, iron the shawl.
Ironing:Â the shawl should be ironed inside out with a steam iron, to enhance the embroidery and with an medium temperature, not too high.
Conservation: The best way to preserve them is by keeping them in a closet (to avoid a continuous light on the shawl) and hanging on a hanger and then cover them up with a case if possible.
