FIBER ALPACA
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT ALPACA?

Compare alpaca fibers to other fibers on the market—both synthetic and natural—to discover what’s so special about alpaca. Alpaca is superior not only in beauty but also in warmth, softness and durability.

In adapting to the extreme temperatures of its native Andes, the alpaca developed fleece with unique thermal properties. In addition, yarns made from alpaca fleece are stronger than ordinary yarn and resist soiling, staining and pilling. Because an alpaca’s coat does not have natural oils, its fleece is less likely to have the characteristic “itchiness” of ordinary wool and is more likely to be hypo-allergenic. Its softness to the touch is the reason the feel of alpaca is often compared to the feel of cashmere.

Seven times warmer and three times stronger than sheep’s wool, alpaca fleece has gained inclusion in an elite group of specialty fibers which require that a fiber be not only exceptionally fine but also rare. Inca royalty wore robes made from alpaca fleece for their luxury, warmth and strength. Indeed, alpaca garments more than two thousand years old have been discovered in remarkably good condition in Peruvian ruins. Imagine the resilience alpaca fibers possess in order to create that kind of durability!

Color is another natural advantage of alpaca fiber. While most animal fibers are one color, alpacas produce fleece in an amazing range of 22 colors, reducing the need for artificial dyes and allowing the fibers to retain their natural softness, flexibility and hypo-allergenic qualities.

Fiber density and texture vary according to the type of alpaca producing the fleece. There are two types of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri. The Huacaya produces dense, crimpy fibers and boasts greater insulation properties than the Suri. The Suri alpaca is rarer than the Huacaya and is prized for its longer and silkier fibers, which resemble dreadlocks in appearance although the fibers are not matted.

Alpaca fiber IS special! With its superior attributes of warmth, resilience, texture and luxurious touch, alpaca garments are truly fit for royalty!