Alpacas
About Alpacas
The scientific name for the alpaca is lama pacos, and it is the most abundant of the four South American camelid species. The majority of alpacas live in the Peruvian Andes, but Australia also has a significant population of these animals, making it one of the largest outside of Latin America.
The alpaca typically stands between 1.20 and 1.50 meters in height and weighs anywhere from 45 to 79 kilograms. It has a smaller, more curved profile than the llama and is easily recognized by the unique fringe of hair on its forehead.
For hundreds of years, families living in high-altitude areas of the Andes have been raising alpaca herds for their livelihood. They shear the animals and sell their fibre, which has been a primary source of income since the times of the Inca Empire.
There are two varieties of the alpaca: the Huacaya and the Suri.
Huacaya Its fibre grows perpendicularly. It has density, softness, lustre and curls with a spongy appearance.
Suri Its fibre grows parallel to the body, with curls all around them, like fringes. It has a silkier and shinier appearance.
Alpacas are typically sheared once a year from November to April, during the spring and summer seasons. The amount of wool produced by each animal varies, but on average, it weighs around five pounds (2.3kg). However, some fleeces can weigh up to 15 pounds (6.9kg).
Alpaca fibre is unique in its range of natural colours, which can vary up to 22 shades including white, black, grey, fawn, and brown. This distinguishing feature sets it apart from other natural fibres.
The fibre is classified manually according to its fineness and sorted into qualities such as
- Royal Alpaca: 18-19 microns, the finest fibre of Huacaya. It represents 2% of total alpaca production.
- Baby Alpaca: 22-23 microns It has 22 natural colours. It represents 25% of total alpaca production.
- Baby Suri Alpaca: 22-23 microns long, silky and sparse fibre. It represents 0.5% of total alpaca production.
- Alpaca Superfine: 26-27 microns curly hair fibre. It represents 40% of total alpaca production.
The names of animal qualities, such as "Baby," do not indicate the age or physical traits of the animal. Instead, these names are used for products like clothing and yarn that have an average fibre diameter of 22.5 microns. It's possible to obtain this quality from an adult animal with a fine coat, not just a baby animal.
Alpaca is a durable and sturdy material, even in its highest quality, making it perfect for industrial use. It can be dyed to any colour while maintaining its natural shine. Alpaca can be processed using the woollen or worsted systems, allowing for the production of a variety of fabrics, from rough tweeds to fine gabardine. The fibre is resistant to breaking, fraying, staining, and static electricity, and is easy to clean.
Alpaca produces a significant amount of fibre after processing, with a yield of 87% to 95%, compared to sheep's wool, which has a yield of 43% to 76%. It is also more cost-effective and environmentally friendly to process due to its lack of grease or lanolin in the fibre. Additionally, unlike cashmere, it does not require de-hairing.
Alpaca Lifestyle
Due to alpaca’s unique properties, many luxury brands have chosen Alpaca fibre to manufacture high-quality fashion garments. But beyond that, wearing an alpaca garment has a deeper meaning.
It means:
- To be gentle on the land.
- To save energy and water.
- To support the Andean people and their cultural history.
- To be part of a unique tribe with an enlightened and mindful lifestyle.