Yak Your Wool
If you were asked to describe a yak, what would come to mind?
Known as the “hairy cattle” yaks are long-haired ox-like mammals domesticated in Tibet and are now raised often among people living at elevations of 4,000-6,000 metres mainly in China and central Asia, Mongolia and Nepal. In the fashion industry, they are associated with one of the softest materials in the world: Yak wool.
For the past 17 years, Shokay has championed sustainably and ethically sourced Yak wool with an innovative approach. Their yak fibre pieces pave the way for Tibetan communities to thrive while creating timeless pieces that can live in people’s closets for decades.
For the past 17 years, Shokay has championed sustainably and ethically sourced Yak wool with an innovative approach. Their yak fibre pieces pave the way for Tibetan communities to thrive while creating timeless pieces that can live in people’s closets for decades.
Founder Carol Chayu encountered yaks in Western China and learnt that their wool is comparable to cashmere. The brand has centred on the community by working with local yak farmers who nurture these gentle giants in their natural habitats. They are naturally low-carbon emission animals because, unlike goats, they have gentler grazing habits which are less likely to uproot the grounds they are feeding on. Sourced directly from Tibetan cooperatives in Western China, Shokay oversees the cleaning, sorting and carding of the fibres in Northern China. The wool is then sent to coastal China to spin into yarn and knit into sweaters.
Shokay Grassland Conservation, the brand’s ongoing conservation programme is supported by their Community Development Fund. It partners with Drakyom Palzang and the Trachung Tsang Centre to empower Tibetan herders as they restore their grassland. Concretely, Shokay helps herders by providing opportunities to earn greater income.
We asked Carol how she sees Shokay leaving a legacy of sustainable and ethical practices through yak wool within the fashion industry:
“We hope people remember us as the pioneer of bringing yak wool to the fashion industry, showing that it is possible to produce beautiful products that are ethically made and directly benefit local communities. Lately, we have been working on building animal welfare standards for yak wool. That’s one more step to changing the industry!”
