PERUVIAN ALPACAS
Peruvian Alpacas have been domesticated for over 5,000 years and are prized for their fleece, a super fine fiber that produces the most luxurious textiles imaginable.
The Ancient Inca people thought alpacas to be God's number one gift to man. Often considered the "Fiber of the Gods", only royalty in the Incan tribe were allowed to wear the highest grade alpaca fiber clothing. Alpaca fiber was used as the currency of the Inca and considered so valuable it was stored in vaults under constant guard.
Today, Peruvian alpacas’ superior fleece and low maintenance requirements have resulted in a multi-million dollar textile industry which is centered in Peru, but taking hold in the United States.
Alpaca fleece is considered one of the finest natural fibers in the world. Comparable to cashmere, it is the small diameter of the individual hair of the alpaca fleece that keeps it from feeling “scratchy”. Their fleece can come in 22 natural colors, is lighter than wool (due to its hollow fiber) and yet warmer than cotton. It's even flame and water resistant! Better yet, alpaca fleece is free of lanolin which allows it to be processed without harsh chemicals, unlike wool.
