AVENUE beanie, ultramarine

Alpaca, the gold of the Andes

The material of this product – 100% Baby Alpaca – has a dream fibre quality. Despite its name, the wool does not come from baby alpacas, crias. This particularly fine alpaca fibre has got its name from its exceptionally soft feel against the skin.

Baby Alpaca being a very soft wool makes it also a little more delicate as a material. To compensate for this, we use it in tightly knitted garments and in woven scarves to ensure the longevity of our knitwear.

Alpaca wool is one of the most extraordinary and rare natural fibres in the world. It’s not well-known by many, but once you get to know it, you’re hooked! Its exceptional breathability, excellent resistance to pilling, and beautiful, fluffy glow are something you just won’t find in other materials.

Unmatched warmth and breathability

Are you always cold, or alternatively, are you unable to wear knits because they are too hot? Alpaca is the perfect solution for both those problems: alpacas have adapted to different temperatures, as it is hot during the day and chilly at night in the Andean mountains where they graze. Over the millennia, alpaca wool has developed special properties in terms of both warmth and breathability.

Alpaca vs. Merino

We often get questions about the properties of alpaca wool compared to other materials. In comparison to merino wool, alpaca wool stands out especially for its superior moisture transfer qualities. Alpaca fibre is untreated and has a natural ability to absorb and transfer moisture effectively.

Commercial merino wool is treated to make it machine washable, in a so-called superwash treatment: the surface of the wool is coated with resin. The treated fibre loses much of its absorption capacity. The surge in the popularity of merino wool has made it increasingly challenging for a customer to discern between different levels of merino wool quality as there is now a vast array of merino qualities available in the market.

Alpaca wool – it only gets better with use

Most of our knits are densely knitted - we don’t cut corners on material use - so they need some time to soften up. This is necessary in order to make garments that last longer, and as you know, longevity is one of our core values. You can speed up the softening by brushing or steaming the knit, or ease it in by wearing a shirt underneath at first. Over time, the inside of the knit gets a soft, fluffy layer, typical for alpaca wool, making it feel really smooth and lightweight on you.

The secret to the smoothness of alpaca wool is in its fibre: it has fewer and tinier scales on its surface than other wools. Thanks to those smooth and long fibres, alpaca wool doesn’t pill easily, which our customers really appreciate.

Taking care of your Alpa® alpaca garment is super easy! You don’t have to wash it a lot. In fact, most times, just letting it air outside is enough to make it fresh again. If you wear another shirt under your knitwear, there will be even less need for washing.

If the garment gets stained or musty and is indeed in need of a wash, we recommend washing it by hand in cold water, using a gentle soap and squeezing it softly (avoid rubbing). After rinsing, roll it in a towel to get rid of extra water, reshape it and let it dry on a flat surface to avoid any unwanted stretching.

The whole washing from start to finish takes about 10 minutes – so it’s really easy to take care of your alpaca garment. Washing it once or twice a year should be enough in normal use.