Incredibly warm, lightweight, and oh-so-soft, it’s no wonder alpaca was once only reserved for Inca royalty. To bring this ancient material home to you, we trekked through the mountains of Peru, partnering with a fair trade weaving cooperative who’ve spent generations mastering the art of alpaca textiles.
Today, we’re sharing a bit more about alpaca and why we’ve fallen so hard for this material…
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WARM, YET LIGHTWEIGHT
1 // The results are in: alpaca wool is 7 times warmer than sheep’s wool. And even though alpaca is incredibly warm, it’s also super lightweight. How, you ask?! The alpaca fibers are medullated. Translation: the fibers are hollow, making them lighter in weight but also allowing them to easily trap heat for warmth.
Super Soft
2 // There’s nothing quite like the super soft feel of alpaca. And not just any alpaca - if you want the softest alpaca, go for baby alpaca (good thing that’s what we use for our textiles!). Baby alpaca refers to the first shearing of an adult alpaca, which is typically the finest fibers underneath the coarse overcoat. What makes these fibers so soft? They are extra thin – only 20 micrometers to be exact (trust us, that’s thin).
Built to Last
3 // Because of its softness, you may think alpaca is somewhat fragile, but it is actually one of the most durable fibers. Longer in length, alpaca fiber is much less likely to pill and wrinkle when compared to shorter fibers (looking at you, cashmere...). And bonus, alpaca is also naturally water resistant.
Hypoallergenic
4 // Still need convincing? Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic, making this wool ideal for those with allergies or sensitive skin. Alpaca does not contain lanolin or other oils, so it holds less dust, allergens, and bacteria than other wool.
Sustainable
5 // From their softly padded hooves that cause less damage to the environment to their ability to produce more fleece (it takes 16 Kashmir goats to create the same amount of wool 1 alpaca creates), alpacas are incredibly green.
To see this material for yourself, check out our collection of alpaca textiles HERE.
Our Alpaca Best-Sellers
(Selva Alpaca Throw - 175, La Calle Alpaca Throw - 155, Abajo Alpaca Throw - 175)