Sustainably produced and harvested, alpaca is a natural choice
for today's eco-conscious consumer.
The alpaca is renown for its exceptional fleece and is considered by the fashion world to be one of the most exclusive. The fleece is prized for its softness (comparable to mohair), fineness (it is a no itch fiber), and strength.
Considered to be a relatively rare specialty fiber, alpaca fleece production is limited in the US and Canada to date because of the comparably small numbers of animals in North America. Worldwide production is only about 4,000 tons yearly, which justifies the cost of this special yarn. Compared to approximately 5,000 tons of Cashmere, 8,500 tons of Angora rabbit, 22,000 tons of Mohair, and 83 million tons of sheep's wool, the amount of alpaca fiber produced worldwide is a fraction of total wool production.
Alpaca fiber is stronger and several times warmer than wool, with an incredibly soft, supple touch and a wonderful fineness which crafters desire. The fiber is semi-hollow, making it very lightweight while possessing a thermal warmth unlike other natural fibers. Alpacas come in 22 distinct colors so that the fleece can be blended to produce an infinite array of earth tones. It also can be dyed to produce the marvelous bright or soft colors
valued by current fashion trends.
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