The fiber of the Gods
The gold of the Andes
Alpacas are member of the South America camelid family, like Lamas. They are indigenous of the Peruvian Andes where lives the 80% of the entire world population.
They live at altitude that range from 3500 to 5000 meters above sea level in extreme weather conditions where temperatures can vary from +30 to -20° in a single day. The unique insulating properties of their fiber, allow Alpacas to survive.
There are two breeds of Alpaca:
The Haucaya is the most common variety. Its fleece is typically bulky with curly looks and with a larger range of natural colors;
Suri represents only the 15% of the alpaca population. It is distinguished by its long and straight fibers of silky appearance and high elasticity.
Alpacas were domesticated between 4000 and 5000 BC for its soft and luxurious fiber. During the Inca, alpaca wool was used to make clothing for the royal family which allowed only designated craftsmen to weave it. They survived the Spanish conquest and today, for many Andean families, alpacas are an important source of income.
Alpacas graze extensively in their natural habitat, the Andes. The alpaca is an eco-friendly animal with a vegetarian diet, gentle with the land when walking and eating.
The wool is sheared every 12 months (between November and March) causing no harm to the animal.
Properties
The Incas called the Alpacas “the gold of the Andes” and their fiber “The Fiber of the Gods”.
The unique combination of the high-altitude conditions in which they live and a low-protein diet, allow Alpacas to have a fleece with superior characteristics if compared with other high-quality fibers, such as Cashmere or Mohair.
Properties and Attributes
Luxury, Exclusiveness And Sustainability
Elasticity and tensile strength of yarn
Is conferred by uniformity and synchronized curling produced during the natural growth of the fiber.
A sensation of
softness
Is produced by the smoothness, water content and nature of the fiber.
Thermal
characteristics
Are typified by insulating properties that maintain body temperature at normal levels; this is because each fiber contains air-filled cavities.
Hypoallergenic
properties
Are natural owing to the absence of lanolin.
Variety of natural
colors
There are nine pure tones and more than another twenty natural shades that make industrial dyeing unnecessary.
High
Durability
Results from the resistance of the fiber to attack by micro-organisms.
Eco
friendly
They graze without pulling plants out by the roots and nibble only the upper parts.
Highly
efficient
Alpacas need less food than other fiber-producing animals.
SuperBaby Alpaca
19-20 mic
Baby Alpaca
21.5 – 22.5 mic
FS Alpaca
25.5 – 26.5 mic
BabySuri Alpaca
22.5 mic
Suri Alpaca
27.5 mic
Coarse Alpaca
+30 mic
Tradition and Processing
ALPACA FIBER
ANCESTRAL PROCESSING TECHNIQUES
Alpaca wool is processed using both hand and machine techniques.
Hand processing is mostly loom-based, practiced by women who have been handing down secrets and techniques from mother to daughter for hundreds of years.
The Chinchero district in the Cusco region, former capital of the Inca empire, has a strong textile tradition, and it is here that the community that produces our handmade scarves is located.
Only natural dyes extracted from the immense wealth of products of the Andes, such as herbs, flowers or fruits, are used.
The link with Inca symbolism remains strong and unchanged.
Even today, the alpaca and its wool are ever-present in the life of the community, as strongly as they were present in the lives of the Incas. From agriculture to astronomy to flora and fauna, everything around this people serves as inspiration, from the flight of a bird to galaxies.
This is perhaps one of the greatest assets of this community and of our products, the natural inclination toward life.