The Fibre
Alpaca is a fine natural fibre valued for its softness, warmth and lightness. It has been part of Andean textile culture for centuries and remains important to the people who raise the animals, work the fleece and make the finished textiles.
Alpacas belong to the South American camelid family, alongside llamas and their wild relatives, vicuñas and guanacos. Each produces fibre with distinct characteristics. Vicuña is particularly prized for its exceptionally fine fleece.
The quality of an alpaca textile begins with the fleece. Careful sorting, spinning and weaving determine how that fibre feels, falls and wears.
Huacaya and Suri
There are two alpaca breeds, each producing a distinctive fleece.
Huacaya has a dense, gently crimped fleece. These small waves give the fibre loft and help create fuller yarns, widely used in woven fabrics and knitwear.
The rarer Suri has long, relatively straight locks with a silky lustre. Its fibre lends itself to textiles with a fluid drape and a subtle sheen.
Understanding fibre quality
Fineness is measured in microns, each one a thousandth of a millimetre. Finer fibres generally bend more easily against the skin and feel softer. Coarser fibres are stiffer and can produce a prickling sensation.
Baby alpaca describes a fine grade of fibre, not the age of the animal. Adult alpacas can also produce fleece of this quality.
The grades used in our product descriptions distinguish fibres by fineness and fleece type.
Alpaca (Regular/Fleece) — 25–30 microns
Often labelled simply as alpaca. A robust grade suitable for garments and home textiles.
Alpaca Superfine — 22–25 microns
Used in woven and knitted textiles, combining softness with durability.
Baby Suri Alpaca — 19–22 microns
Fine Suri fibre with a silky feel, natural sheen and fluid drape.
Baby Alpaca — 19–22 microns
Fine Huacaya fibre valued for its softness and warmth.
Royal Alpaca — Below 19 microns
An exceptionally fine Huacaya selection with a particularly soft feel.
Alpaca 16 — Around 16 microns
Quality also varies across an animal’s fleece. The back and sides, known as the blanket or saddle, generally provide the most valuable textile fibre. Fibre from the neck, belly and legs can be coarser, shorter or less consistent and is usually collected separately.
After shearing, the fleece is sorted by fineness, length and colour. Different sections of the blanket may fall into different grades; baby and royal alpaca are identified through selection and measurement.
The average micron count is only part of the assessment. Uniformity matters because even a small proportion of coarse fibres can affect comfort. Long fibres of similar length help produce an even yarn with fewer loose ends. Yarn twist and fabric construction then influence softness, strength and resistance to pilling.
Comfort and natural colour
Alpaca fibres have overlapping microscopic cuticle scales with a lower profile than those of sheep’s wool, contributing to a smoother feel. Alpaca fleece contains much less natural grease than sheep’s wool, and most is removed during washing before spinning.
Fine alpaca can be comfortable against the skin, although the finished fabric and individual sensitivity also matter. A brushed throw and a closely woven scarf will feel different, even when made from the same fibre grade.
Warmth comes largely from the air held within the yarn and fabric. A lofty construction provides insulation without excessive weight. The fibre also absorbs moisture vapour, contributing to comfort in use.
Alpaca fleece occurs naturally in shades from ivory and fawn to chestnut, silver grey and deep charcoal. Sorting and blending these fibres produce undyed yarns with subtle variations in tone. The colour comes from the fleece itself, avoiding the dyeing stage while still requiring cleaning and finishing.
Alpaca belongs alongside cashmere among the fine animal fibres. Its particular appeal lies in the loft of Huacaya, the lustre of Suri and its range of natural colours. Careful fibre selection and skilled manufacture determine the quality of the finished textile.
Production and care
Our products are made in Peru by specialist mills holding Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS), OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, OEKO-TEX® STeP and WRAP certifications, with Fair Trade Peru Good Practices verified by SGS.
Well-made alpaca textiles can give many years of use. Occasional airing can reduce the need for washing. Follow the care label: where hand washing is permitted, use cool water and a suitable mild detergent, avoid rubbing or wringing, and dry flat. Store pieces clean, dry and folded, with protection from moths.
