 Alpaca Fiber
The sweet-tempered, gentle alpaca is prized for its luxurious fiber,
which is stronger and more resilient than merino sheep wool. Some
characteristics of alpaca fiber put it at the head of fine fiber.
Alpaca fleece is valuable because it combines so many positive,
commercial attributes into one fiber. There are no negative characteristics
to be found in the Alpaca's fleece. Mother Nature designed the
ideal fiber for use by mankind and then placed it on the gentle
Alpaca
To the touch, alpaca is soft and silky, with a rich handle and sensual
drape. Alpaca is considered to be one of the finest fibers in the
world. Alpaca yarns are usually knitted into sweaters, vests, gloves,
socks and scarves. Alpaca also felts very well some of the oldest
pieces of clothing and cloth where felted garments. Alpaca fiber
end products are superb. Garments made from alpaca fiber exhibit
a slippery, silky feel. They do not pill or lose their shape and
can be worn by those who are allergic to wool. Alpaca fiber is considered
amongst the finest fibers by the fashion industry along with cashmere
and silk. The fiber is often referred to as "the fiber of the
Gods".
Thermal properties
Alpaca fiber is hollow, thereby providing excellent thermal properties
within extremely lightweight garments. Alpaca fiber provides greater
insulation and a wider comfort range with less weight. Compared to
wool and cashmere, an alpaca garment is lighter, more breathable
and far warmer. Precipitation does not readily penetrate an alpaca
garment, allowing the wearer to remain warm and dry. This property
also aids in wicking moisture away from the skin for better comfort
and warmth.
Endurance
Alpaca fiber is also extremely strong and durable. Numerous alpaca
textiles over two thousand years old have been found in excellent
condition with their original colors intact! Alpaca garments can
be worn for years and still retain their original beauty. Additionally,
alpaca garments and textiles are extremely resilient, won’t
mat or pill, and are stain resistant.
Natural colors
Alpaca fiber comes in an extraordinary variety of 22 natural colors,
ranging from pure white through fawn, to a range of browns and
a true jet black. Luxurious garments crafted from the silky fiber
have the look and feel of cashmere. Alpaca fiber itself has many
excellent characteristics. Visually, alpaca fiber is unsurpassed
for its range of rich, natural colors. From creamy white to lustrous
black, with many grays and browns in between, there are at least
twenty-five different natural shades. In addition, the fiber takes
dye readily for an unlimited palette of beautiful colors.
Hypo-allergenic / non itchy
Unlike wool, alpaca fleece contains no lanolin, and requires no chemical
scouring agents for processing. This, combined with its natural hypo-allergenic
properties and softness, makes alpaca garments comfortable, even
for sensitive skin. The softness of Alpaca over wool of the same
micron is due to a scale height of •4 micron for alpaca versus •8
micron for wool. The lower scale height creates a smoother, slippery
feel with a less scratchy surface. Alpaca has much less prickle factor
than merino because of the flatter scales on the fiber shaft.
Fiber
Style
The individual staples, or locks of fiber, make up an entire fleece.
The fibers which make up the staples vary in style and quality from
Alpaca to Alpaca and from one location on the Alpaca's body to another.
The quality and style of the staple also changes with the age of
the animal.
The Factor Which Influence the Value of Alpaca Fiber Are Both Physical
and Environmental
Physical Influences
Fineness: Fiber consumers generally pay more for finer fiber, whether
they are handspinners or industrial processors. Fineness is a highly
heritable genetic trait, and a rigorous selection process can greatly
impact a herd's overall fiber fineness.
Color: Industrial processors will normally pay a premium for white
fibers, since this enables them to use subtle pastel dyes or create
any particular color they choose. Handspinners will normally pay
more for natural colored fleece which is unusual or true to the color
of garment they desire to create.
Length: Staple length is an important processing consideration and
determines which manufacturing process will be used, woolen or worsted.
Yield: This is very important in two respects: 1) fleece is sold
by the pound or ounce (how much fiber an Alpaca yields determines,
to a large extent, the fiber's total value), and 2) since the clean
fleece weight is the measure of usable fiber, the clean weight of
shorn fleece versus its shorn weight is important. Alpaca fleece
produces a high yield of clean fiber after processing: 87 to 95 percent
for Alpaca versus 43 to 76 percent for sheep's wool.
Environmental Influences
Nutrition impacts the rate of fiber growth, and in some instances
it also affects the fineness. It is thought or believed that fleece
weight and quality is 50% in the breeding and 50% in the feeding.
Impurities in the fleece affect its value. Handspinners pay far more
for clean fleece. Industrial processors estimate clean fleece yield
and the cost of cleaning when they value fleece. Pasture management
and pre-shearing grooming are the keys to clean fleece.
As alpaca fiber is a specialist fiber, in short supply compared to
other natural fibers, it has always been priced high and is not subject
to price fluctuations as say sheep's wool.
With minimal care and soft brushing the alpaca garments regain their
original beauty year after year. Alpaca fiber is naturally clean
because dust doesn't get trapped by this lanolin free fiber (wool
has lanolin that attracts dust). So the care is simple and easier
than wool because you will wash your alpaca garment occasionally
by hand washing with mild shampoo. This procedure will guarantee
years of enjoyment.
Alpaca Fiber Advantages over Wool
• Stronger (per same fineness)
• Hollow fiber, warmer for weight
• Lower incidence of allergic reactions
• Softer, less irritating
• Lots of rich, natural colors
• Less shrinkage (washable)
• Thermostatically superior (50 degree F comfort range vs. 30 degree
F for wool)
Alpaca Fiber Advantages over Synthetics
• Superior breathability
• Wicks away body moisture
• Hollow fiber, warmer for weight
• Warm when wet
• Won’t mat or pill
• Naturally windproof
• Flame resistant, doesn’t melt
• Low static electricity, doesn’t hold debris
• Stain resistant
• Resists acquired odors (odors dissipate overnight)
• Wrinkle resistant (hang overnight, wrinkles disappear)
• All natural and biodegradable
• Natural luster, more attractive
• Thermostatically superior (50 degree F comfort range vs. 20 degree
F for synthetics)
Alpaca Fiber advantages over Cashmere
• Natural colors (up to 28)
• Thermal insulation, better than cashmere
• Wrinkle resistance, better than cashmere
• Resistance, better than cashmere
• Pilling, less than cashmere
• Water absorption, similar than cashmere
• Flexibility, less than cashmere in normal alpaca, similar than
cashmere when we work with baby alpaca
• Shrinkage, less than cashmere
• Luster, cashmere lose its luster after a couple of years, alpaca
retains it for decades. tear, pill, stain or create static. It is
easily cleaned.
• Alpaca fleece produces a high yield of clean fiber after processing:
87 to 95 percent for Alpaca versus 43 to 76 percent for sheep's wool.
• Alpaca is easier and less expensive to process than sheep's wool
due to its lack of grease or lanolin, and Alpaca does not have to
be de-haired like cashmere or camel.
• Alpaca can be scoured or cleaned without using costly chemicals.
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