Posts Tagged ‘Luxury Shahtoosh’
The Luxury of Shahtoosh
With just one shahtoosh shawl costing well over 00, it’s wee wonder only the wealthy elite can afford such luxury.
But 00 is a drop in the ocean compared to the devastating effects the luxury of owning a shahtoosh shawl is having on the herds of Tibetan Antelope. The true cost of these shawls is the decline of a vulnerable species in order to satisfy human vanity.
Hair
What Is A Shahtoosh Shawl?
In Persian, ‘Shahtoosh’ means ‘King of Wools’–a perfect report for an ultra fine wool that’s softer than whether Angora, Pashmina and Cashmere.
Shahtoosh shawls are so incredibly lightweight that they can be passed through an midpoint sized finger ring, hence their tasteless name, ‘Ring Shawls’. The suspect they’re so light is because each hair of the Tibetan Antelope is around 6 times thinner than the midpoint human hair. That’s a very fine hair!
Each shahtoosh shawl requires about 350 grams of wool. Being as each Tibetan Antelope yields no more than 125 – 150 grams, it takes the wood of three animals to make just one shawl.
How Is The Wool Harvested?
You may be wondering why there’s so much fuss about shahtoosh shawls. We take the wool of abundance of other animals, after all.
That’s true, but the Tibetan Antelope is different.
In order to derive the fine hairs, these beautiful animals have to be slaughtered. Yes, that’s right. Where we sheer or comb other animals in order to harvest their wool, the hairs of the Tibetan Antelope need to be individually plucked from the skin.
Just imagine, three animals are killed for every shahtoosh shawl sold!
Shahtoosh Shawls are Illegal
Once beloved amongst celebrities to whether drape around their shoulders when wearing high-priced ballgowns to glamorous events–or even to swaddle their newborns in–shahtoosh shawls were once the epitome of celebrity luxury.
Luckily, more and more high profile celebrities have realized that wearing a shahtoosh shawl is harmful to their reputation. Some have even joined campaigns against the sale of these shawls.
But that doesn’t mean citizen aren’t still wearing them.
Even though the trade of shahtoosh is illegal in most countries, retailers continue to offer shawls in high-end boutiques throughout the world. The Internet sees its share of the trade, too.
Those inquiring about the origin of the wool are told stories of ‘shy mountain goats’ that rub themselves against trees and shrubs, leaving their wool behind. Because only small amounts of wool can be harvested in this way, the price is high. If only those customers knew just how high the price is!
Of course, some do know but don’t care. The human desire for luxury often gets in the way of what’s right and proper. As long as citizen are willing to feed their selfish attitudes, the trade in shahtoosh shawls will continue… But only for as long as the Tibetan Antelope exists.
The Threat of Extinction
Poachers kill around 20,000 Tibetan Antelope every year, many of which are pregnant females tantalizing with their flock to their beloved birthing grounds.
With fewer than 75,000 animals left, the Tibetan Antelope is facing a very real threat of extinction–for the sake of fashion.
No matter how wealthy you are, if you buy a shahtoosh shawl you’ll be the suspect why three of these beautiful animals lost their lives. Only a total boycott can stop this trade.
If you care about the fate of the creatures we share our planet with, report any person found to be trading in shahtoosh. A quick call to your local police middle point is all it takes.
The Luxury of Shahtoosh
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