Alpaca (lama pacos) are members of the South American camelid family that are closely related to llamas, guanacos and vicuñas. Alpacas are indigenous of the Peruvian highlands, where they were domesticated thousands of years ago. There is an estimated of 3.5 to 4.0 million alpacas in South America, and about 95% of them are found in the southern region of Peru.

Alpacas live at altitudes ranging from 3000 to over 4500 meters above sea level, where they tolerate temperatures that fluctuate between –20 degrees °C to +30 degrees °C in a single day and where they find a low-protein diet based on natural grasses.

There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya is the predominant type of alpaca. Its fine and bulky fleece offers the widest range of natural shades. It has a harmonious shape giving an appearance of strength and gracefulness. Suri is a scarce type of alpaca. It has a long, shiny and silky fiber. It comes in narrow range of natural shades – white, fawns and light browns. Its shape has an eye-catching look thanks to its long hair.

Alpacas are mostly owned and bred by small communities along the highlands. Shearing is made once a year between November and March.

Alpaca fiber is prized to its natural properties. Due to the harsh weather conditions that prevail in the Andes and a low protein diet, alpacas grow a fine hair comparable to other special fibers such as Cashmere, Angora and Mohair.

Alpaca is a silky, soft, durable fiber that has unique thermal properties due to the microscopic air pockets found in the fiber. These pockets allow the user to breathe through it on warm days, and likewise trap body heat in cold weather. Alpaca hair also comes in more than 24 natural shades. This characteristic is not to be found among other natural fibers and can be easily dyed without losing any of its natural sheen. The combination of the above factors and characteristics make alpaca’s hair a highly valued specialty fiber that is an attractive alternative for top designers worldwide.

Once the Alpacas are shorn once a year, the fibre is classified manually into the following qualities Super-Baby Alpaca (19-20 microns), Baby Alpaca (21-22.5 microns), FS Alpaca (25-26.5 microns), Coarse Alpaca (30-32mic microns). Also the Alpaca fibre is suitable for blending with other natural and man made fibers. The names of these qualities do not reflect the age of the animal or other phenotypic characteristics.