Have you heard about the alpacas, the cutest and graceful animal who is similar to the camel and llama? Well, here’s a photo to refresh your memory.
Do you recognize it now, uh? This beautiful and historical camelid grows in the highest Peruvian Andes.They needed to adaptto the harsh climate in altitudes up to more 4.000 meters, therefore they grow a specific fiber to protect them from this extreme weather. I’m talking about alpaca fleece.
Long ago, in times were the Incas Empire rule most of Latin America region, alpaca fleece was reserved for royalty only. After the Spanish came and conquered the Incas, they saw alpacas as a competitor for grazing the lands available to their sheep and almost slaughtered them to the point of extinction. Newly in the 1800s, their beauty and resilience were rediscovered and valued.
Nevertheless, here we are going to talk about a specific alpaca wool: the baby alpaca fleece.
Wait! Are you thinking that they extracted the wool from the baby animals? Oh, no. Don’t be shocked. Breathe. When we mean “baby alpaca fleece”, we’re talking about a type of this fiber that is obtained from the first shearing. Is rare and most valuable. Just as virgin olive oil from the first pressing, this fiber is considered the best of its type.
But that’s not the only reason why this type of alpaca wool must be your next acquisition. It has multiple benefits that would encourage you to look for it.
Is absolutely environmentally friendly
This is one of the topics we would like to emphasize: alpacas raising does not harm the environment.
Its elastic properties make it easy to work with and to produce any product by this wool, no detrimental chemicals are used. Baby alpaca fiber comes in 22 natural colors as white, brown, gray or black. Even dyeing is not necessary. Also is renewable and recyclable.
It is hypoallergenic
As is a natural product and doesn’t contain lanolin, the main cause for allergies, is consider a safety product especially for newborn babies, who are still sensitive to the environment.It doesn’t cause any skin irritation or reaction.
Has thermoregulatory properties
It has a diameter of 21 to 23 microns. This means that alpaca wool keeps you warm in winter but also protects you from the heat in summer. This fiber contain microscopic air pockets to provide great insulation and it can absorb both a very large amount of water, as it wicks away moisture, and also ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Versatility
It has multiple ways for you to use this wool: as clothing for newborns, long coats and also general garment like men’s suits. Almost used for every type of clothes, business and sports ones, it looks as fashionable and luxury as cashmere when you try it on.
It also can retain its strength and lustre or can be spun to look like fur but with unmatchedwarmth. You are never wrong when you combine any alpaca-wear accessory.
The battle with cashmere
We’ve mentioned that cashmere is luxury and fashionable in a line above. Yes, it is. We recognize it. But nowadays isn’t as sustainable as it was decades ago when was very popular.
And why is that happening? For one simple reason: cashmere is environmentally catastrophic. The grasslands in China cannot support the long demands of cashmere and they’re turning many places deserts.
Companies need low temperatures for sheep to grow cashmere but the harsh winters in recent times has decimated the herds. In addition, 90% of Mongolia is at risk of turning into a desert and that’s because the over-grazing is compounding climate’s effects.
And what is more, the demand has shoot up (today you can buy a 100% cashmere pullover for less than $90) but that doesn’t mean as an advantage. In commercial words, when we see something lowers its prices, we realized its qualityhad decreased.
Furthermore, brands as Louis Vuitton and Versace have already showcased baby alpaca fiber on runaways in Paris and Milan. And if you want to see many products made of this suitable fleece you can visit Tinkuy.
We don’t have to list again the natural benefits alpaca fleece has that beats cashmere. We think you must look now for any baby alpaca product to really know how soft, warm, consistent and fashionable it is.