Handwoven Cervelt Art, from the Looms of Dhaka Muslin
Lighter than you expect, warmer than you remember.
The winter down of the New Zealand red deer, spun and woven by hand by the weavers who revived Dhaka Muslin.
AS SEEN IN
The Down Beneath the Winter Coat
Each winter the New Zealand red deer grows a fine undercoat beneath its outer hair. That down is Cervelt. At 13 microns it is finer than the finest cashmere, and it is gathered in small quantities each year.
13 microns
Fiber fineness
0 dyes
Natural undyed fawn
16 steps
The thousand-year-old Dhaka Muslin method
Plain weave
The historic construction of Dhaka Muslin
No animal is killed to make Cervelt. The down is a by-product of the luxury leather industry.
Woven on a Dhaka Muslin Pit Loom
Our weavers sit at pit looms set into the earth, the same looms that wove Dhakai Muslin, GI Registration No. 09, Bangladesh. Every thread of Cervelt passes through their hands. No machine touches the cloth.
The Grand Shawl spends four weeks on the loom with two master weavers working side by side. A broken end left unfixed would show across the whole cloth, so the work moves at the pace of the thread.
The Collection, One Fiber
Every piece is woven in a very small number each year. When a piece’s 2026 allocation is gone, the next one comes off the loom in 2027.
| Piece | Size | Weight | Price | Available in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Square | 16 × 16 in | 22 g | $300 | Only 10 |
| Cravat | 44 × 16 in | About 60 to 70 g | $1,000 | Only 10 |
| Scarf | 70 × 18 in | About 110 to 125 g | $3,000 | Only 10 |
| Signature Shawl | 39 × 39 in | 138 to 150 g | $5,000 | Only 3 |
| Grand Shawl | 78 × 39 in | 276 to 300 g | $10,000 | Only 1 |
Cervelt Beside the Rarest Fibers
| Cervelt | Shahtoosh | Vicuña | Cashmere | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source | New Zealand red deer down | Tibetan antelope (chiru) | Andean vicuña | Cashmere goat |
| Fineness | 13 microns | About 11.5 microns (average) | 12 to 13 microns | 14 to 19 microns |
| Legal to own and trade | Yes | No, banned under CITES | Yes, regulated | Yes |
| Animal killed for fiber | No | Yes | No | No |
| Handwoven on a pit loom | Yes, Muslin Dhaka | Historically, Kashmir | Rarely | Rarely |
From the New Zealand Luxury Fiber to a Dhaka Loom
Our Cervelt comes from Richard Keddell of Douglas Creek Limited, New Zealand, who has spent years bringing the fiber to market. In this conversation, Richard and our founder, Shariful Alam Pavel, talk through where Cervelt comes from, why shahtoosh was banned, and what happens when Cervelt meets the Dhaka Muslin loom.
Every Piece Is Recorded
Each Cervelt piece arrives in the Muslin Dhaka presentation box with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. The certificate records the fiber, the fineness, the weave, the dimensions and the weight, and carries a QR code that opens the piece’s record on muslindhaka.com.
Questions About Cervelt
What is Cervelt?
Cervelt is the fine winter down of the New Zealand red deer. It measures 13 microns, finer than the finest cashmere.
Is Cervelt a legal alternative to shahtoosh?
Yes. Shahtoosh comes from the Tibetan antelope and its trade is banned under CITES. Cervelt is legal to own and trade, and no animal is killed to make it.
How is a Muslin Dhaka Cervelt piece made?
The yarn is woven by hand on a Dhaka Muslin pit loom in plain weave, following the thousand-year-old Dhaka Muslin method. Nothing is dyed.
How many pieces are made?
Each piece is very limited. In 2026 we offer 10 pocket squares, 10 cravats, 10 scarves, 3 Signature Shawls and 1 Grand Shawl. Once a piece’s 2026 allocation is gone, the next is woven in 2027.
How do I buy a piece?
Press Request to Own. We reply personally, confirm availability and arrange delivery by DHL Express.
Own a Piece of Handwoven Cervelt Art
Images are artistic impression only. The real product may differ due to screen view and other reasons. Size may vary due to hand weaving, finishing and shrinkage.