Which animal hair is used in shahtoosh?
Tibetan antelope
Shahtoosh comes from the short, warm fleece of the rare Tibetan antelope, a species found almost exclusively in the Changtang area of Tibet, on the Tibetan Plateau. It takes four animals to provide enough wool for just one shahtoosh shawl or scarf.
Why is shahtoosh wool banned?
Shahtoosh refers to the fine wool made from the undercoat of the Tibetan antelope. Also known as Chiru goat, the Tibetan antelope is considered an endangered species under CITES. Therefore, Shahtoosh is banned in most of the countries in the world.
How can I tell if my Shahtoosh is real?
You will not see very long hairs protruding from shahtoosh, as you might in mohair, angora or lamb’s wool products. You may, however, see a few short, light colored “guard hairs” visible in the shawl. Guard hairs (kemp fibers) are coarser than human hair and appear to be crimped or crinkled.
Is shahtoosh better than pashmina?
Pashmina too is one of the best quality shawls, just not as fine as Shahtoosh. It is produced from the fine raw Cashmere wool which grows on the underbelly of the Ladakhi Changthangi goat.
Is shahtoosh same as pashmina?
Shahtoosh is the name given to the wool of the Tibetan chiru antelopes. Shahtoosh shawls are illegal in the United States. Pashmina comes from Tibetan mountain goats.
Is shahtoosh wool banned?
Shahtoosh (also written shahtush, a Persian word meaning “king of fine wools”) is a fine type of wool made from the hair of the Tibetan antelope. The Shahtoosh shawl is now a banned item with possession and sale being illegal in most countries for the Chiru is an endangered species under CITES.
Is Source of obtaining shahtoosh?
For shahtoosh, popularly known as the “king of wool”, is procured from the skin of the chiru, a Tibetan antelope found on the Tibetan plateau. The animal is poached in the wild and it is said that four-five chirus have to be slaughtered to make one shahtoosh shawl.
Are shahtoosh shawls illegal?
The Shahtoosh shawl is now a banned item with possession and sale being illegal in most countries for the Chiru is an endangered species under CITES. Shahtoosh is the world’s finest wool having the lowest micron count, followed by vicuña.
Why has the government banned the sale and use of shahtoosh shawls?
Shahtoosh shawls are made from the wool obtained from an endangered Tibetan antelope named as Chiru. This animal is rare and faces the threat of extinction. Therefore the government has put a ban on the sale of shahtoosh shawls in order to protect and conserve the endangered animal.
Is shahtoosh banned in India?
In 1975, the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) banned all trade in Tibetan antelope wool. Trade in shahtoosh was banned nationally in the early 1990s. So, the chiru is a protected species in India, China and Nepal.
What is the meaning of shahtoosh in English?
Shahtoosh (also written shahtush, a Persian word meaning “king of fine wools”) is a fine type of wool made from the hair of the Tibetan antelope. It is also a metonym for a type of Kashmir shawl traditionally made of shahtoosh wool.