| With just one shahtoosh shawl costing well over | | | | swaddle their newborns in-shahtoosh shawls were |
| $1000, it's little wonder only the wealthy elite can | | | | once the epitome of celebrity luxury. |
| afford such luxury. | | | | Luckily, more and more high profile celebrities |
| But $1000 is a drop in the ocean compared to the | | | | have realized that wearing a shahtoosh shawl is |
| devastating effects the luxury of owning a | | | | harmful to their reputation. Some have even |
| shahtoosh shawl is having on the herds of Tibetan | | | | joined campaigns against the sale of these shawls. |
| Antelope. The true cost of these shawls is the | | | | But that doesn't mean people aren't still wearing |
| decline of a vulnerable species in order to satisfy | | | | them. |
| human vanity. | | | | Even though the trade of shahtoosh is illegal in |
| What Is A Shahtoosh Shawl? | | | | most countries, retailers continue to offer shawls |
| In Persian, 'Shahtoosh' means 'King of Wools'-a | | | | in high-end boutiques throughout the world. The |
| perfect description for an ultra fine wool that's | | | | Internet sees its share of the trade, too. |
| softer than either Angora, Pashmina and | | | | Those inquiring about the origin of the wool are |
| Cashmere. | | | | told stories of 'shy mountain goats' that rub |
| Shahtoosh shawls are so incredibly lightweight that | | | | themselves against trees and shrubs, leaving their |
| they can be passed through an average sized | | | | wool behind. Because only small amounts of wool |
| finger ring, hence their common name, 'Ring | | | | can be harvested in this way, the price is high. If |
| Shawls'. The reason they're so light is because | | | | only those customers knew just how high the |
| each hair of the Tibetan Antelope is around 6 | | | | price is! |
| times thinner than the average human hair. That's | | | | Of course, some do know but don't care. The |
| a very fine hair! | | | | human desire for luxury often gets in the way of |
| Each shahtoosh shawl requires about 350 grams | | | | what's right and proper. As long as people are |
| of wool. Being as each Tibetan Antelope yields no | | | | willing to feed their selfish attitudes, the trade in |
| more than 125 - 150 grams, it takes the wood of | | | | shahtoosh shawls will continue... but only for as |
| three animals to make just one shawl. | | | | long as the Tibetan Antelope exists. |
| How Is The Wool Harvested? | | | | The Threat of Extinction |
| You may be wondering why there's so much fuss | | | | Poachers kill around 20,000 Tibetan Antelope |
| about shahtoosh shawls. We take the wool of | | | | every year, many of which are pregnant females |
| plenty of other animals, after all. | | | | moving with their flock to their preferred birthing |
| That's true, but the Tibetan Antelope is different. | | | | grounds. |
| In order to collect the fine hairs, these beautiful | | | | With fewer than 75,000 animals left, the Tibetan |
| animals have to be slaughtered. Yes, that's right. | | | | Antelope is facing a very real threat of |
| Where we sheer or comb other animals in order | | | | extinction-for the sake of fashion. |
| to harvest their wool, the hairs of the Tibetan | | | | No matter how wealthy you are, if you buy a |
| Antelope need to be individually plucked from the | | | | shahtoosh shawl you'll be the reason why three |
| skin. | | | | of these beautiful animals lost their lives. Only a |
| Just imagine, three animals are killed for every | | | | total boycott can stop this trade. |
| shahtoosh shawl sold! | | | | If you care about the fate of the creatures we |
| Shahtoosh Shawls are Illegal | | | | share our planet with, report anybody found to |
| Once popular amongst celebrities to either drape | | | | be trading in shahtoosh. A quick call to your local |
| around their shoulders when wearing expensive | | | | police station is all it takes. |
| ballgowns to glamorous events-or even to | | | | |