Shahtoosh is a Persian word meaning "the king of wool". It is a ultra-fine wool with a softer feel than cashmere or angora. Shahtoosh shawls are also known as ring shawls as they can be passed through a finger ring. They are highly priced and most admired shawls in the world. Shahtoosh fibers originate from a small Tibetan antelope, the Chiru, which lives at altitudes of 15,000 to 20,000 feet. The continuous trade of shahtoosh fibers for making shawls and other woolen garments have driven them on the verge of extinction. As a result, shahtoosh shawls have been banned for trade by the World Wildlife Foundation. The trade and production of shahtoosh shawls is declared illegal in many countries, including the United States.

Fabric:
Shahtoosh is the rarest of fibers, which is exquisite and an almost transparent fiber. Possessing a shahtoosh shawl had been a symbol of pride and class in the recent past. The incredible delicacy, fineness and warmth of shahtoosh shawls made them highly precious and popular till the time they were banned.

Market for Shahtoosh Shawls:
Till the recent past, trade for shahtoosh shawls was on the boom and were in demand in every part of the world. The legendary shahtoosh shawls of ancient and modern times were the prize treasures of the elite in Kashmir in India, Nepal and Tibet. These shawls were presented as gifts in these parts of the world to members of the aristocracy and visiting diplomats. The extremely elegant and high priced shahtoosh shawls were mainly produced in Kashmir valley in India, till the time they were banned globally.

In Britain and the USA, buying, selling, and importing shahtoosh has been declared as criminal offence.