The Shokay Company is a social enterprise formed by classmates and
friends with the end goal of contributing to sustainable poverty
alleviation. We are united by our common belief in socially responsible
business as a solution to development challenges.
Our
company began as an idea with a geographic focus on China . From there,
it grew into a full-fledged enterprise that gained support from friends
around the world. We work closely with experts in the garment and
fashion industry to bring only the most premium luxury fiber to our
customers.
Since our beginnings in 2005, our team
has grown across international boundaries and includes a dedicated
network of professionals united by a common goal. From Shanghai , to
Hong Kong, to Qinghai to Japan , to the USA , we strive to create a
path for beautiful Shokay products to find their way into your hands. Shokay yarn is made of luxurious pure yak down fiber, hand-combed from
the yaks in the exotic Himalayan regions, bringing you the same warmth
that protects the yaks at sub-zero temperatures. Our Shambala
Collection is 100% yak and Orient Collection is 75% yak/25% bamboo.
This unique hand-knitting yarn is amazingly soft to the touch and comes
in a variety of beautiful colors. Shokay yarn is perfect for
one-of-kind projects and gifts. It is even machine washable!
At Shokay, 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.
Shokay's development impact is four-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.
4) Community development Work: We have conducted a series of
in-depth household surveys to better identify the areas of greatest
need in the various villages where we work. As Shokay grows, profits
will be reinvested back into these communities to aid in the areas
identified.
We currently work with 2600 people from the Hei Ma He Village
of Qinghai Province in Western China, providing a sustainable source of
employment and income to these herders. By setting up fiber
cooperatives in each sub-village, it is our goal to help grow each
eco-system to provide a safe and transparent vehicle for addressing
local development.
Shokay also works with a team of hand knitters in Chong Ming
Island off of Shanghai to bring our collection of home, kids, and
accessories to fruition. We help to build their skill-set in a safe and
healthy work environment, rewarding them fairly for their beautiful
knitting talents.
As Shokay grows, so does our ability to help empower some of China’s
most impoverished communities. Thank you for supporting us. Meeting the Yak 
Yaks are a majestic animal that live in mountainous areas above
10,000 feet, where few animals can survive in harsh conditions. There
are only 14 million yaks in the world, of which 13 million are found in
Western China. Yaks are the lifeline of Tibetan people. Their outer
guard hairs are used to make waterproof tents and ropes; their soft
inner down is used to make clothing and blankets; their milk is made
into yak butter; their backs are used to carry heavy items; and their
meat is consumed as a source for protein.
Yak down is a luxury fiber that is relatively unknown to the
fashion world. Each yak produces about 100g of fine downy fiber. The
average fineness of down from an adult yak is 18-20 microns, while the
length is around 30-40 mm. Yaks that live in higher altitudes have
finer fiber. The most common natural color of the yak is a dark
chocolate brown, but can also be found in white, tan, and grey. Unlike
wool, the scales of yak fiber are in a waved mosaic pattern, resulting
in a very smooth fiber that does not itch. free patterns www.shokay.com
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