Alpaca garments – Properties and maintenance

The garments of Alpaca have an exceptional quality, this is due to the amount of properties that this fiber has and that is not found in other wools.

The alpacas are native from the Peruvian Andes, where they have been domesticated since the time of pre-Inca – cultures.

It is of medium size, has an average height from 80 to 90cm, has large and pointed ears, the body is thin and protrudes a long narrow neck, this neck is noticeable when is not covered with wool, its weight is between 48 and 84 kilograms, their canine teeth are positioned in both jaws and measure about 3 cm in length, the female doesn’t have canine teeth as developed as the male, but with the exception of this characteristic, both sexes are physically very similar.

The Alpaca is one of the most beautiful camelids in South America. They are herbivores, they only eat vegetation, but their diets may also include bark, leaves or stems.

Like other ruminants, the Alpacas have three – compartment stomach that digest forage efficiently. These auquenids live in numerous herds that graze on the Andes plateau at quite high 3 or 4 meters above sea level. They live 20 years.

The climatic conditions in which they live, with sudden temperature changes, strong winds, very high solar radiation and a low concentration of oxygen, have caused them to develop a resistant coat of high quality.

It is sheared to the alpacas once a year, the animal is not slaughtered and a measure of 35 kilos per fiber is taken, per unit.

When they are shorn, their hair is manually sorted into different groups: Depending on its origin, color, quality and length. Depending on this, the fiber is used to make some clothing products.

Cleaning and maintenance

The care of alpaca garments is easy, for its quality the garments are kept more time clean and a lustrous look.

• Save only when it is completely dry.
• Leave well bent to prevent wrinkles from coming out.
• Don’t place on hooks so that it does not deform.
• When is not used,  it’s better to keep them in a plastic bag and is recommended not to use naphthalene.

The Alpaca fiber continues to be developed using ancestral techniques, respecting the environment and the planet. It is a renewable and 100% biodegradable resource.

The garments made with Alpaca fiber (wool and fur) provide natural ventilation, insulate from heat and protect from cold.

Since 2004, the Alpaca fiber has the official denomination of ‘Product Flag’, is a recognition to those products that represent the image of Peru.