The Andean region of Peru has a unique ecosystem. The fiber quality of the alpaca is no accident, as they are raised in unique environmental conditions. Alpacas live in altitudes that range between 3000 and more than 5000 meters above sea level, where they withstand temperatures ranging from -4ºF to + 86ºF. They live in a natural and healthy environment free of pollution, breathing fresh air and eating natural grasses untarnished by agricultural chemicals and fertilizer contaminants. |
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Alpaca SuriThe fiber of this breed is long and straight, and is organized in waves that fall to each side of the body. The fiber is shiny, fine, silky and has a great luster and lightness, and is extremely soft. |
Alpaca HuacayoThe fiber is short, thick, dense, and slightly crimped; this gives the fur a spongy appearance and texture. Their abundant coverage gives the Huacayo a harmonious shape with an appearance of strength and gracefulness, and a soft and huggable look. |
TaxonomyScientific classification |
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Alpaca fiber has 24 natural colors, and is highly prized for its natural properties of warmth, softness and strength. The fiber is five times warmer than sheep’s wool fiber, stronger than mohair, more luxurious than cashmere, and smoother than silk. It has thermal properties due to the smooth cell structure, with microscopic air pockets that help to create lightweight apparel with very high insulation value. Alpaca fiber is strong and resilient, and has more thermal capacity than almost any other animal fiber. It is resistant to odors, tearing, pilling, staining, moisture static, and aging. It is also hypoallergenic, not itchy, durable, and elastic, characteristics that are not found in other natural fibers. |
Alpacas are shorn once or twice per year, the same type of clippers that are used for sheep. The alpaca wool is then collected by shepherds and sold to manufacturers to make alpaca fiber thread and alpaca weaves. Alpacas generally produce between 3-13 lb. of fiber per year.
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The fineness of the alpaca’s fleece is directly related to the age of the alpaca. The finest alpaca fiber comes from the first shearing, and is known as “baby alpaca”. Twice per year the wool is cropped; the first two crops are considered baby fiber, and the rest are not.
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Alpaca Fiber Classification
Peruvian Institute for Alpaca and Camelids (IPAC) created the Standing Committee to establish the Technical Standards for Alpaca Fiber (NTPFA). The INDECOPI Commission for Technical Regulations has approved the technical standards, classifying Peruvian alpaca fiber into different degrees and business categories.
The characteristics by which the overall fiber quality can be judged are: • Fineness
Once the alpacas have been shorn, the fiber is manually classified into the following grades:
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