Fiber Overview

Alpaca fiber, sometimes mistakenly referred to as alpaca wool, is sorted into 22 distinct colors, ranging from blacks through browns and whites, and including subtle shades of maroon, peach and grays. Alpaca fiber can be blended into an infinite array of natural colors, including combinations that do not occur naturally. Alpaca fiber takes and retains dyes very well.

Alpaca fiber has little guard hair and no lanolin. It is unusually strong and resilient. Fabrics made of alpaca fiber are easy to care for and long-lived. These and other qualities make alpaca fiber a sought out commodity in commercial textile houses. Alpaca fiber offers the following benefits and qualities

• Alpaca fiber is extremely fine with little guard hair
• Alpaca fiber is compatible with either the woolen or worsted systems
• Alpaca fiber has excellent insulative or thermal qualities
• Alpaca fiber has a rich silky sheen which has high visual appeal in the apparel industry
• Alpaca fiber is warmer than Merino wool
• Alpaca fiber is more abrasion resistant than Merino wool
• Alpaca fiber has a higher tensile strength than wool
• Alpaca fiber contains no grease, oil or lanolin and does not smell
• Alpaca fiber does not retain water and can resist solar radiation
• Alpaca Fiber is rare – supply cannot keep up with demand for fine quality fleece
• Alpaca Fiber can be carded and blended with other natural and/or synthetic fibers
• Alpaca fiber can be easily dyed any color without losing its sheen

Archaeologists have discovered a great deal of alpaca fiber goods from graves and religious sites predating the Inca Empire in South America, a true testament to the durability of alpaca fiber and its long history.

Luxurious, versatile, natural and hypoallergenic, alpaca fiber offers many advantages. With the emergence of the eco-conscious consumer expect the demand for alpaca fiber to only increase.