IS SHAHTOOSH BETTER THAN CASHMERE?
Once you try on a piece of cashmere clothing, feel the smoothness of its texture and the warmth it provides on colder days, you’ll never look back and settle for less. And so, learn a little more about what’s so great about cashmere, and the one it’s always confused with, the shahtoosh.
There has been lots of talk in recent years about fabrics such as shahtoosh and cashmere which have often been confused as being made from the same animal. Although this couldn’t be further from the truth, one is actually obtained from the Cashmere goat and the other from an endangered antelope!
So, what is the difference?
SHAHTOOSH
Shahtoosh, historically worn by Mughal emperors and royalties is favoured for its incredibly soft feel (its name actually means “king of the fine wools”!) and it is known as the fiber having the lowest micron (diameter of a thread) therefore making it the finest fabric known today. This incredibly fine fabric is used to make the most luxurious of shawls and scarves. Unfortunately, the shahtoosh material is sourced from the Chiru – a Tibetan antelope. These antelopes are inhumanely killed to obtain the shahtoosh fibres as it can take up to 4 of these antelopes to produce just one of these shawls. The Chiru was declared an endangered species in 1975, and therefore it is actually illegal to own or sell shahtoosh in countries that signed the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
CASHMERE
Cashmere on the other hand is a fabric that is obtained from an animal that is NOT endangered and neither through a cruel method. The fabric is actually sourced from the cashmere goat via combing or shaving the fluffy undercoat which is highly insulative and delicately sof. In contrast to Shahtoosh, cashmere usually has a higher micron count – around 19 microns and different grades depending on the fineness and quality. As a result, Cashmere is considered to be a more ethical and suitable substitute for products like shawls and jumpers instead of Shahtoosh.
Don’t miss to watch this video about Shahtoosh!
We hope you have enjoyed this little comparison, and don’t forget to check out the rest of our Cashmere article series on the blog!
Photo Courtesy: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/10/cashmere-country-the-perils-of-making-the-worlds-finest-fabric
Further readings on Cashmere
1. Cashmere Basics 101
2. What makes cashmere so expensive
3. Differences between cashmere and shahtoosh wool
4. How to take care of cashmere products
5. Why aren't all cashmere created equal
6. From cashmere fibre to cashmere fabric