OUR WOOL
All development, spinning, dyeing and finishing of the alpaca yarn takes place in Peru. We only work with factories that have fair trade practices. We source all our yarn from IncaTops who is headquartered in Arequipa, Peru. IncaTops places a strong focus on social responsibility and animal welfare which is why we chose to source our yarn with them. In cases where we offer undyed garments, know that very extensive and careful hand sorting took place to isolate each fiber in its respective color group.
It is important to consider the alpaca animal and the extreme environment that it lives in. High in the mountains, the temperatures can fluctuate dramatically (30 Celsius). The alpaca’s tolerance at these altitudes is transferred to the garments we produce, giving it unique properties that are highlighted below.
Some of our products also contain merino wool which is sourced from Uruguay. The wool from Uruguay is NOT subjected to a technique called mulesing. Rest assured that our merino wool is 100% mulesing-free.
Technical properties of Alpaca Wool
• Odor resistant
• Hypoallergenic
• Wind resistant
• Stain resistant
• Water resistant, known to have natural moisture wicking properties repelling moisture away
• Breathable
• Durable, known to be the strongest mammal fiber in the world
• Flame retardant
• Superior insulation
• Adaptable, it is isolating and insulating meaning that it will keep you warm when its cool and cool when it is hot
• Elastic and maintains its shape
Odor Resistant
The alpaca fiber has keratin which has antifungal or antimicrobial properties and is naturally antibacterial. Antibacterial features require less washing meaning longer lasting clothes.
Hypoallergenic
As opposed to other wool, the alpaca fiber has no lanolin making it perfect for those with wool allergies
Wind Resistant
Before it is processed, Alpaca’s fiber is very close to being windproof. Once it is sheared it maintains wind resistant qualities, meaning that it will resist light to moderate wind conditions and provide a barrier against air penetrating the material. All while maintaining its breathable qualities.
Stain Resistant
Alpaca garments are not 100% stain proof but, due to the fineness of the fiber, are stain resistant to a high degree.
Breathable
Alpaca fiber is hollow, trapping air inside the micro-pockets. These micro-pockets regulate temperature and airflow. This also gives the fiber a lightweight quality while maintaining warmth. Due to this lighter weight, the fabric can “breathe.”
Moisture Wicking
Alpaca does not absorb much moisture, rather it sheets it off. Not only that but its unique properties effectively evaporate the water, keeping you cooler in warm weather and warmer in cool weather.
Flame retardant
Alpaca, like other wool, is more flame resistant than plant or synthetic fibers. It does not have to be treated before becoming flame retardant. While it can catch fire if exposed enough, the structure of the wool requires high temperatures before catching fire. Unlike plant or synthetic fibers, alpaca wool does not melt onto or attach to the skin and is self-extinguishing.
Microns
The smaller the micron measurement, the finer the wool. For us, Royal alpaca means that the fibers used are 18-19 microns in diameter. It is the top of the line in Alpaca fiber and is sourced from the huacaya Alpaca in Peru.
Baby alpaca means the fibers used are between 20-22.5 microns in diameter. This fiber is sourced from the huacaya Alpaca in Peru. Baby alpaca is not measured by the age of the alpaca but by the wool that fits within this micron category. While baby alpaca is usually the first few shears, it is possible that some older alpacas produce fiber that is categorized as “baby alpaca”