Alpaca – fibre of the kings
Alpaca – fibre of the kings
Our two month adventure in the middle of South American forests and mountain mists was not useless: We found a rare treasure – alpaca wool. As the temperature in the mountains changed from blazing hot days to freezing cold nights, the alpaca wool knits bought from the locals kept us comfortably warm with their silky touch. It was hard to believe that such a wonderful material was so unknown for most people.
Alpaca wool is a special natural fibre that brings together the best qualities of soft cashmere and durable lambswool.
Garments made of alpaca wool feel luxuriously soft, only get better with use and provide excellent breathability.
Alpaca knits are easy to take care of and will serve you for years. They feel comfortable and look sharp.
The alpacas in Peru mostly graze free and the herds are gathered together for shearing. In Peru, alpacas are treated with dignity – it is a culturally and historically highly respected animal for Peruvian people, and alpacas are expensive.
In the Incan empire, alpaca fibre was strictly reserved only to be used by kings and royals. It is not surprising, as we know that rare alpaca wool is softer, more silky feeling, warmer and more durable than wool. It is also suitable for most wool-allergics as alpaca does not contain lanolin.
Alpaca farming is more ecological than sheep or goat farming. Alpacas’ soft feet do not cause erosion and they eat grass without pulling the roots.
Shearing is also an important part of alpaca care as thick fleece would cause alpacas to overheat in the summertime. Most of the animals take shearing easy, some even enjoy it. Alpaca wool is always mulesing-free.