When you think about Shawls of the Khasi people, the Thohriawstem shawl comes to mind and not so long ago the Jain Thoh Khyrwang was as popular as the thohriawstem.

The shawl/jainkup 'Thoh Khyrwang' derived its name from a village called Khyrwang in Jaintia Hills where the villagers reared, spun Eri Silk cocoons and wove their own Khyrwang shawls.

In a book 'The Khasis' written by Major P.R.T Gordan it was mentioned that the “jain khyrwang” was a “delight of mountaineers" and it was a popular 'must have' item among the people of the southern hills (War) Mikir Hills (Ri-Bhoi and villages in Assam borders).