The Uniqueness of Alpaca Wool

Alpaca fleece is one of the most highly valued fibers in the world. To the Incas, who domesticated the alpacas, the fleece was as valuable as gold. These animals are not raised for their hide or meat, but specifically for their luxurious fleece.

Alpaca fleece is incredibly soft, and its hollow-core fibers make it nearly seven times warmer than sheep's wool. The surface of the fiber is smooth, which gives the wool a silky feel and prevents dirt from easily clinging to it. Additionally, alpaca wool is lightweight.

Alpaca fleece has two unique properties: it is flame-resistant and possesses a water-repellent surface. Because the fiber is smooth, water simply rolls off. However, it will get wet if submerged in water by force. Even if the surface of an alpaca wool product gets wet, it is still capable of retaining heat.

Since alpaca fleece does not contain lanolin, garments made from it can be worn by people who are otherwise allergic to wool. Those with more sensitive skin—who cannot tolerate even the slightest prickliness—should opt for knitwear made from baby alpaca wool.

The baby alpaca yarn well-known to crafters does not necessarily come from a young alpaca. If an alpaca has genetically inherited high-quality fiber traits from its parents, an adult animal can also produce this luxurious, fine fleece.

Although alpaca fiber is very fine in diameter, the wool is nevertheless strong, lasting longer than sheep's wool. However, just like all natural plant and animal fibers, it does wear down with use. To increase the durability of the material, it is often blended with polyamide, polyester, or nylon.