Shun shahtoosh, appeals fashion fraternity

New Delhi, Sep 2 (UNI) The fashion fraternity today sent out an appeal at the country's biggest fashion mela to shun shahtoosh shawls, which are made illegally from the fleece of endangered Tibetan antelope chiru.

''The fight to protect and save chiru is one that concerns us all. We urge every fashion-conscious person to abide by the law which lists the chiru as a protected species,'' said Rathi Vinay Jha, Director-General of Fashion Design Council of India, the apex body of fashion designers.

Those connected with the industry should opt for alternatives to shahtoosh like pashmina, Ms Jha said in a statement issued at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week attended by over 70 Indian designers and 170 domestic and foreign buyers.

The call to eschew the use of shahtoosh products was directed at designers, buyers, retailers and the ''fashion-conscious'' attending the six-day spring-summer show.

Ms Jha said those in the fashion industry should not be misled by claims made by those who profit from the illegal trade in shahtoosh shawls, fragments or even raw wool.

''The wool from pure strains of high altitude herds, particularly from Mongolia and China, are the finest.

A high quality shawl can pass through a ring as smoothly as a shahtoosh,'' she said elaborating on alternatives like pashmina, whose wool comes from the domesticated goat found in the arid Himalayan plataeu.

Top fashion designers like Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya and Rocky S have presented their creations at the fashion week, which concludes tomorrow. However, an extra day has been added to the week this year only for business interaction.

UNI RA/FZ VD VC1545