Yak Down: Luxury Ethical Fashion From New Heights
Cashmere has traditionally been the gold standard of comfort in the textile industry, but Shokay is challenging that idea with its new collections made entirely from yak down.
Hand-combed by Tibetan nomadic herders in the mountainous regions of Western China, yak down is a soft, luxurious textile still relatively unknown to the fashion world.
Shokay products, first sold internationally in countries including the US, Japan, Europe, and Hong Kong, now being brought to Australia exclusively by Ettitude which provides the latest in original, stylish and practical eco-friendly products in a quick, convenient, online shopping environment.
Each yak produces just 100g of fine luxury-quality fiber; this fiber rivals cashmere, alpaca, and vicuna in its comfort and quality. Unlike wool, the scales of yak fiber are in a waved mosaic pattern that allows for a soft, smooth, and itch-free fiber.
We aim to impact the lives of Tibetan herders in China oppressed by poverty. By introducing luxury yak down to the global market, we hope to create a market for yak fiber, thus increasing the value of the raw fiber to provide herders with long-term employment and a greater sustainable income.
Our development impact is three-fold:
1) Direct Income Generation: by sourcing the raw yak fiber directly from the nomadic herders, herders will earn a greater sustainable income. We also provide long term employment and income generation to the team of hand-knitters who create our finished products.
2) Preserve Local Culture: by increasing the economic value of yak rearing, a traditional skill, local communities will face less pressure to migrate into the cities in search of greater employment opportunities. This provides them with the choice of preserving their traditional way of life and instills a pride in their own culture, which is particularly important for marginalized ethnic communities
3) Promote Sustainable Usage of the Environment: purchasing raw fiber is a zero pollution and will help prevent problems such as overgrazing. The raw fiber is naturally shed once a year, preserving the yaks indigenous to the Himalayan region.
