Meet the Aplaca!
Alpacas are adorable and social creatures from the Andes mountains. However, these animals are much more than their playful personalities. Just like llamas and sheep, alpacas have a thick coat that can be sheared off and spun into fibers. There are many reasons Why Alpaca yarns are considered top-tier. For one, their fur is hypoallergenic, allowing it to be worn by nearly everyone. They are also incredibly warm – some of their fibers being six times warmer than their llama counterparts. High-quality alpaca fibers are also water-resistant, making them an excellent choice for a variety of climates and temperatures.
They also come in an extremely wide range of natural color varieties, with 16 official colors and 6 “unofficial” color ways, ranging from off-white, to grey, beige, and true black. These colors are a true testament to the wonder of nature, with just how even and striking the hues can be. Grey can lean on metallic silver and beige can come off rose gold. This also means that when the fibers are mixed like paints, truly endless color variants are available. Dyeing alpaca wool is also a possibility, and while we love colorful options, we gravitate towards the artistry of the natural shade mixing.
The process of collecting the fleece happens, on average, once a year. They are sheared down in late spring to compensate for the summer heat that follows. The raw fur is then cleaned and sorted by texture, color, and quality. It is then spun and finished to retain certain properties like shine, texture, etc.
Alpacas come in two main types: Suri and Huacaya.
Suri have long, dreadlock-like fleece, while Huacaya look like plush teddy bears. About 90% of all alpacas are Huacaya and only 10% are Suri.
Photo credit: Azerbaijan Travel
These breeds also come with a “coolness hierarchy” :
- Huacaya
- Suri
- Baby Suri
- Royal Baby Suri
(the fleece of a royal Suri baby is 19 microns; similar to merino, but alpaca is six times warmer than sheep’s wool, hypoallergenic, and keeps you warm even when wet).
A majority of the stock we have is Suri and Baby Suri.
While it’s harder to come by, the quality is unmatched.
Browse through our selection of alpaca wools here.