Shahtoosh: What is it?

We often receive questions about the origin of the wool used for our pashminas. Some even ask if they are made from shahtoosh wool. It is important to clarify that, while pure pashmina is made from the hair of the chin and neck of semi-nomadic Himalayan goats, shahtoosh (or shatoosh) is obtained from the hair of the neck and chest of Tibetan antelopes, known as Chirus.

The term "shahtoosh" comes from the Persian "Sha-tus", meaning "king's wool", referring to the extreme fineness of its fibers (9 microns). "Sha" means "king" and "tus" means "wool". For comparison, pashmina gets its name from the Persian "Pashmīnâh", meaning "warm wool" (14 microns), where "Pashm" means wool and "īnâh" means "warm" or "heat".

Chiru antelopes live in the high plateaus of the Himalayas, at altitudes up to 4,500 meters. They have developed extremely warm and soft wool under their belly and neck to withstand freezing temperatures. However, these animals cannot be domesticated for shearing. Unfortunately, the Chiru antelope is slaughtered for its precious wool.

In the 20th century, the antelope population was estimated at over 2 million individuals. But due to massive hunting, their number plummeted to only 75,000 individuals. Although attempts at domestication were made, they failed. To protect this endangered species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned the trade of shahtoosh in 1979, just like that of elephants, tigers, and rhinoceroses.

Despite this ban, it is still possible to find shahtoosh on the black market. It is crucial not to give in to temptation and to contribute to the preservation of these animals by avoiding buying shahtoosh products. If you are looking for a quality stole, we recommend pashmina instead, which is just as soft and warm.

If you are looking for authentic shahtoosh (the price of which starts from 3,000 euros), it is unlikely that you will find it near you, let alone online. Unfortunately, the rarity of shahtoosh leads some unscrupulous sellers to pass off genuine pashminas as shahtoosh. It is therefore essential to protect animals by avoiding buying shahtoosh and opting instead for a quality pashmina.

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