Alpaca, or llama, is an animal of the camel family. The qualities that appear to us when defining “camel wool” are largely applicable to alpaca wool.

In the wool clothing market, alpaca yarn is considered one of the most valuable and often used yarns for sewing warm clothes, its properties often reminiscent of sheep's, but of higher quality.

Woolen clothing made from alpaca wool is not only warm clothing, it is, first of all, a sign of quality, as well as an emphasis on refined taste and style. Fashion designers, adding the wool of this amazing animal to their works, make woolen clothes more attractive, pleasant to the touch, especially warm and stable for long-term wear, which combines lightness and practicality, charm and amazing durability.

Alpaca wool is highly prized. And therefore, and also due to its characteristics (the wool is very hard), in pure form rarely used. The benefits of alpaca wool are most evident in blended yarns. Widespread We received mixtures with regular or merino wool, with artificial fibers (for example, acrylic). The main advantage of products made from alpaca wool is that they practically do not form pills - long fibers prevent matting.

It is valued primarily for its wool (24 natural shades), which has all the properties of sheep, but is much lighter in weight. 5 kg of wool is sheared from one individual; they are sheared once a year. Alpaca fibers are straighter than sheep's wool, are not creaky and are extremely rich and silky with a subtle sheen. Such qualities are not found in any other type of fur.

Alpaca wool is three times stronger and seven times warmer than sheep wool. Living high in the mountains, where the temperature difference between day and night reaches 30 degrees, alpacas have warmer fur than other animal species.

Ancient tales, amazing legends, funny myths and untold riches, in addition, the horizon of the high mountain plains, colorful and at the same time frightening sheer cliffs, as well as impenetrable thickets - all this is Peru, one of the favorite habitats of Alpacas.

The color range of alpaca wool is quite wide; about 20 shades can be distinguished - from pure white, traditional beige or silver - to brown and even black. A special feature of alpaca wool is that naphthalene cannot be used during its storage, and therefore only natural remedies- lavender, tobacco and cedar.

Initially, alpacas were mistakenly attributed to the genus of llamas, but in 2001 the taxonomy of the species was changed from Lama pacos to Vicugna pacos, having found out that the ancestors of alpacas were vicuñas, and not guanacos, the ancestors of all domestic llamas. The difficulty in accurately identifying the genus was that all four members of the camelid family found in South America can produce offspring if interspecific, so only DNA research could provide a definitive answer to the origins of the alpacas.

Llamas and alpacas, when crossed, produce offspring - huarisos - which are not capable of reproduction, but have a very gentle character and are therefore ideal for the role of pets.

In nature, there are two types of Alpaca: Suri (Suri) and Huacaya (Huacaya). Animals differ only in the appearance of their fur.

Alpaca wool is most often a natural color and the palette here can be varied. The animal itself “paints” itself in the desired tone. It can be black, or all shades of brown, gray and even silver, but white yarn is especially valued. To raise albinos as Peruvians, you have to work hard, and sometimes you have to manually sort through the fibers, removing a different color of wool.

Local residents are very fond of the whole range of alpaca wool, and Europeans use it in almost all fashionable innovations.

It has been noticed that the younger the alpaca, the thinner and softer the wool, so for warm woolen clothing it is better to use fibers from young animals, and denser yarn is also suitable for carpets.

Alpaca wool is a natural fiber shorn from alpaca. It can be light or heavy, depending on how it is twisted. It is a soft, durable, luxurious and silky natural fiber. Unlike similar sheep's wool, this fiber is warmer, non-spiky, and has no lanolin, making it hypoallergenic. Alpaca has natural water-repellent properties. Huacaya alpaca wool, which grows in a soft spongy layer, has natural curls, making it a natural elastic thread ideal for knitting. Suri alpaca wool has far fewer curls and is thus best suited for woven products, but is also surprisingly luxurious. Designer Giorgio Armani used alpaca suri wool in fashionable suits for men and women.

Alpaca wool is used to make a variety of products, from very simple and inexpensive clothing made in Aboriginal communities to complex, industrial and expensive products such as suits. In the United States, groups of small alpaca breeders have banded together to create “Fiber Cooperatives” to make alpaca fiber products cheaper to produce.

In its own way physical structure, alpaca fiber is somewhat similar to hair, very smooth. Alpaca wool is similar to merino wool fiber, but alpaca yarn is generally stronger than wool threads. The hole in the heel that appears on a wool sock or on the elbows of a wool sweater will not appear on a similar alpaca garment. When twisting the fibers together, the strength increases several times. More careful twisting is necessary, especially for alpaca suri wool, as its fibers are silkier, but this can reduce the softness of the yarn.

Alpaca has very fine and light wool. It does not retain water, is warm even when wet and can effectively withstand solar radiation. These characteristics guarantee the animal a permanent and weather-appropriate coat to combat sudden temperature changes. This fiber provides the same protection for humans.

Alpaca fiber also contains microscopic cushions that make it possible to produce lightweight textiles as well as various types clothes. Cells in the central core of the fiber may shrink or disappear, forming air pockets that promote insulation. Wool varies from alpaca to alpaca, and some may have more myelinated (fluffy) fibers compared to wool and even mohair. This may not be a desirable quality. Myelinated fibers can take less dye, stand out in finished clothing, and are weaker.

Good quality alpaca fiber should be approximately 18 to 25 micrometers in diameter. Alpaca wool, which has a smaller diameter, is preferred and is therefore more expensive. As alpacas age, the width of their fibers increases; the growth of fiber width ranges from 1 micron to 5 microns per year. The reason for this is the animal overeating, and if you eat too much nutrients, the animal does not gain weight, but the fiber becomes thicker. Any alpaca wool exceeding 34 micrometers is classified as llama wool.

As with all wool-valued animals, fiber quality varies from animal to animal, and some alpacas' wool is less than ideal. Fiber quality and endurance are the two most important factors when determining the value of an alpaca.

Alpacas come in a variety of shades from blue black, black brown, black, brown, silver gray to white, pink and gray. However, white fibers predominate, due to selection: white fibers can be dyed in a wider range of colors. In South America, whites are preferred as they usually have better coats than dark-colored animals. This happens because dark colors were not popular with breeders. Today, breeders are working hard to breed animals with dark fiber, and have achieved significant progress over the last 5-7 years.

The processes of preparing, combing, spinning, and finishing alpaca wool are very similar to the process used to process sheep wool.

Alpacas have been bred in South America for thousands of years. Vicuñas (as they are called there) were first domesticated and bred by ancient Andean tribes in Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Alpacas in recent years were also exported to other countries. In countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand Breeders shear their animals every year, weigh the wool and check it for fineness. Thanks to the knowledge gained, they are able to breed animals with heavier and finer fibers. The weight of the shearing from each alpaca varies; the maximum you can shear from a male individual is up to 7 kg of wool, of which 3 kg is excellent quality fiber.

Interest in clothing made from alpaca fiber has increased in recent years, perhaps in part because alpaca farming has a significant impact on low impact on environment. Sports enthusiasts recognize that alpaca products are lighter and warmer, more comfortable in cold weather, so sportswear and outerwear manufacturers are beginning to purchase more alpaca products. The use of a blend of alpaca and merino wool is common in the fiber industry to improve processing and quality of the final product.

In December 2006, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2009 International Year natural fibers, in order to increase the importance of alpaca and other natural fibers.

In Peru, Bolivia or Chile, at an altitude of 3.5-5 kilometers you can see this unusual animal of the camel family. The main thing in alpaca is wool, which has as many as 24 shades. It is much lighter in weight than sheep, and is not inferior in quality. Up to 5 kg of wool is sheared from one individual once a year.

The alpaca does not have front teeth, so the animal is forced to collect food with its lips and chew it with its side teeth. Alpaca is very inquisitive, good-natured and intelligent. The animal's height reaches 86 cm, and its weight ranges from 45 to 77 kg. Once upon a time, the Indians believed that in order to bless an alpaca's wool, it was necessary to tear out its heart. Despite the barbaric roots of this custom There are still cases of killing these gentle animals in this way.

Alpaca wool

In the wool clothing market, alpaca yarn is considered one of the most valuable and often used yarns for sewing warm clothes, its properties often reminiscent of sheep's, but of higher quality.

Woolen clothing made from alpaca wool is not only warm clothing, it is, first of all, a sign of quality, as well as an emphasis on refined taste and style. Fashion designers, adding the wool of this amazing animal to their works, make woolen clothes more attractive, pleasant to the touch, especially warm and stable for long-term wear, which combines lightness and practicality, charm and amazing durability.

Alpaca wool is highly prized. And therefore, and also due to its characteristics (wool is very hard), it is rarely used in its pure form. The benefits of alpaca wool are most evident in blended yarns. Blends with regular or merino wool and artificial fibers (for example, acrylic) have become widespread. The main advantage of products made from alpaca wool is that they practically do not form pills - long fibers prevent matting.

Alpaca wool is three times stronger and seven times warmer than sheep wool. Living high in the mountains, where the temperature difference between day and night reaches 30 degrees, alpacas have warmer fur than other animal species.

Ancient tales, amazing legends, funny myths and untold riches, in addition, the horizon of high mountain plains, colorful and at the same time frightening sheer cliffs, as well as impenetrable thickets - all this is Peru, one of the favorite habitats of Alpacas.

The color range of alpaca wool is quite wide; about 20 shades can be distinguished - from pure white, traditional beige or silver - to brown and even black. A special feature of alpaca wool is that naphthalene cannot be used during its storage, and therefore only natural remedies are used as anti-moths - lavender, tobacco and cedar.

Alpaca species

In nature, there are two types of Alpaca: Suri (Suri) and Huacaya (Huacaya). Animals differ only in the appearance of their fur. The Huacaica alpaca has fur like a teddy bear, while the Suri has fur that flows down the sides like a mane in pigtails.

Alpaca Suri wool is of particular value; they are considered high-breed animals. It is longer, shiny and straight than other alpacas, which is why it is so highly valued.

Shearing an alpaca is not as simple as shearing a sheep. To begin with, some of the animals must be separated from their native herd. Finding itself separated from its fellows, the animal behaves unusually - it falls to the ground, and then nothing can make it rise to its feet again. Therefore, local residents resort to a trick: these wayward animals allow themselves to be “taken away” without problems when they are “in the company” of llamas and sheep. Alpacas undergo shearing literally and figuratively once every two years - during the rainy season from April to November. At the same time, alpacas are never sheared “naked” like sheep, because at complete absence hair, animals in such harsh climatic conditions will simply freeze. Therefore, the wool collection for one shearing is not so high: a maximum of 3.5 kg of wool is sheared from one animal, and even half a kilogram less from Suri.

Origin of the alpaca

Scientists are still debating the origin of the alpaca: most of them agree that the alpaca is a product of the selection of vicunas, hence the scientific name - Vicugna pacos. The difficulty in accurately identifying the genus was that all four members of the South American camelid family can produce offspring if interspecific, so only DNA research could provide a definitive answer.

Alpacas have been bred in South America for thousands of years. Vicuñas (as they are called there) were first domesticated and bred by ancient Andean tribes in Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Alpacas have also been exported to other countries in recent years. In countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand, breeders shorn their animals annually, weigh the wool and test it for fineness. Thanks to the knowledge gained, they are able to breed animals with heavier and finer fibers. The weight of the shearing from each alpaca varies; the maximum you can shear from a male individual is up to 7 kg of wool, of which 3 kg is excellent quality fiber.

Interest in clothing made from alpaca fiber has increased in recent years, perhaps in part because alpaca farming has a fairly low environmental impact. Sports enthusiasts recognize that alpaca products are lighter and warmer, more comfortable in cold weather, so manufacturers of sportswear and outerwear are beginning to purchase more alpaca products. The use of a blend of alpaca and merino wool is common in the fiber industry to improve processing and quality of the final product.

In December 2006, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2009 the International Year of Natural Fibers to raise the profile of alpaca and other natural fibers.

Alpaca habitat is South America (Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia). These unique animals live in the highlands of the Andes, at an altitude of 3500-5000 meters above sea level!

In Peru, Alpacas can be found in the vicinity of Cusco or Machu Picchu, grazing in mountain meadows and walking along rocky paths. There are also ranches in the mountains where alpacas are bred. The first to domesticate Alpacas and begin to breed them were the Indian tribe, the Incas, who lived in Peru about 6,000 years ago. Images of Alpacas are widespread in the Mochica culture.

The height of Alpacas, from hooves to spine, usually does not exceed one meter, they weigh about 70 kilograms and have a soft and long hair(on the sides its length reaches 15-30 cm). These calm animals are a little shy, but you can quickly tame them by being close to them and feeding them; in less than half an hour the Alpacas will stop moving away and you will be able to pet them.

Alpaca

Peruvian Alpaca wool is highly valued all over the world. She amazingly combines healing properties camel wool with the lightness, softness and silkiness of llama wool.
Alpaca wool fibers are straighter than camel or sheep wool, are much lighter in weight, are not squeaky and are extremely rich and silky with a subtle sheen. Wool has the softest feel and is very pleasant to the skin. The combination of such qualities is not found in any other type of fur and wool. Alpaca wool is three times stronger and seven times warmer than sheep wool. Living high in the mountains, where the temperature difference between day and night reaches 30 degrees, alpaca has a special wool: light, thin, soft and at the same time so dense that it does not allow water to pass through. It is no coincidence that local residents respectfully speak of it as “divine fiber.”

Alpaca wool fibers contain small curls that give the fur softness and delicacy, while also providing air spaces that create insulation and retain heat. In addition, unlike Merino or sheep wool, Alpaca fur and wool are hypoallergenic, since Alpaca fur does not contain lanolin and other organic fats, and field ticks that cause allergies never live in it.

This unique hypoallergenic property of Alpaca fur and wool, combined with extraordinary softness, allows even people with very sensitive skin to wear Alpaca clothing and use Alpaca products in children's rooms and bedrooms. Fat-free fur and wool are very resistant to dirt, so carpets, bedspreads and any other product made from Alpaca fur will remain clean for a long time.

In nature, there are two types of Alpaca: Suri (Suri) and Huacaya (Huacaya). Animals differ only in the appearance of their fur.

The Huacaica alpaca has fur like a teddy bear.

and Suri’s fur flows down the sides, like a mane in pigtails

Alpaca Suri wool is of particular value; they are considered high-breed animals. It is longer, shiny and straight than other alpacas, which is why it is so highly valued.
Shearing an alpaca is not as simple as shearing a sheep. To begin with, some of the animals must be separated from their native herd. Finding itself separated from its fellows, the animal behaves unusually - it falls to the ground, and then nothing can make it rise to its feet again. Therefore, local residents resort to a trick: these wayward animals allow themselves to be “taken away” without problems when they are “in the company” of llamas and sheep. Alpacas undergo shearing literally and figuratively once every two years - during the rainy season from April to November.

At the same time, alpacas are never sheared “naked” like sheep, because With a complete absence of hair, animals in such harsh climatic conditions will simply freeze. Therefore, the wool collection for one shearing is not so high: a maximum of 3.5 kg of wool is sheared from one animal, and even half a kilogram less from Suri.

Alpacas after shearing

Alpaca fur itself is divided into several types: fiber with a diameter of 19 microns is called “Royal Alpaca”, 22.5 microns - “Baby Alpaca”, 25.5 microns - “Super Soft Alpaca”, 32 microns “Adult Alpaca”. These names do not reflect the age of the animals or other phenotypic characteristics. For example, the name "Baby" is used for yarn, fabric, etc., where the average fiber diameter is 22.5 microns.

This unique fiber has the largest range of natural colors in nature - 24 shades that vary from black to grey, burgundy, brown, cream and white, providing a wide variety in decoration.

Pure natural alpaca wool white lends itself well to coloring, but it is very rare. Due to the fact that such wool is now used in great demand and is sold at high prices, Peruvians are interested in breeding albino alpacas. But their wool, as a rule, contains colored inclusions, so it has to be carefully sorted by hand. Alpaca yarn is produced by combed or machine spinning. In addition to the fabulously beautiful shades of the natural range, alpaca wool has high elasticity and insulating properties. For dyeing wool bright colors Only natural dyes are used
Due to its unsurpassed qualities, alpaca wool is highly valued on the market. Alpaca wool is used to knit warm clothes, blankets, sweaters, ponchos, coats, hats, scarves, and socks. Soft toys are also made from Alpaca fur.

Among the many advantages of clothing made from Alpaca llama wool, the main ones are light weight, the ability to retain heat (thermal capacity) and a wide range of climatic comfort (about 50 degrees, from -30 to +20). Wool is a natural protein fiber. It has a hollow base structure, which makes it lightweight good attitude weight-heat capacity. Wool fiber perfectly allows air to pass through, removes excess heat and creates a “dry heat” effect. Unlike other types, alpaca wool has the ability to regulate its humidity in a range convenient for humans.
Also important feature and the value of products made from alpaca wool - they almost never form pills, so sweaters, clothes and alpaca blankets are obtained high quality, wear-resistant.

Alpaca wool, like camel wool, has excellent medicinal properties, but at the same time, Alpaca wool is very soft and does not bite. With its help, pain in the back and joints is reduced and blood circulation improves. Socks made from alpaca wool perfectly reduce fatigue and pain in the legs, and are indispensable for arthritis and arthrosis.
A soft, warm sweater or a cozy woolen blanket will protect you from the cold, give you the joy of gentle touches and a real healing effect!
And the original, ancient geometric patterns, lovingly knitted by Peruvian craftsmen and imbued with the energy of the disappeared Golden Empire of the Incas, will become a talisman, bringing good luck and good mood.

Alpaca is a domesticated species of llama, a humpless member of the camel family. Thanks to its extremely thick coat, it is perfectly adapted to life at high altitudes.
DIMENSIONS
Height at withers: 94-104 cm.
Weight 55-65 kg.
REPRODUCTION
Puberty: usually from 2 years.
Mating season: all year.
Pregnancy: 11 months.
Number of cubs: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: herd animals; active during the day.
Food: Herbs and perennials.
Lifespan: grown up to seven years of age, in the wild it can live up to 25 years.
Related SPECIES. Other representatives of the American callosopods are the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), the house llama (Lama guanicoe f.glama) and the vicuna (Vicugna vicugna).
Alpacas are usually bred only for their wool. It is believed that the alpaca was the result of crossing a domestic llama with a vicuña. Numerous attempts to acclimatize the alpaca in Europe and Africa ended in failure because people ignored the fact that the alpaca is a high plains animal.
FOOD . Most of all, the alpaca loves young, fresh grass, but in general the animal is unpretentious in food.
As in other callosopods, upper lip the alpaca has a forked one. Alpacas eat almost the same food as horses. These animals graze high in the mountains. When searching for food, alpacas move very slowly, carefully exploring high mountain areas in search of food suitable for them. Small herds of these animals move from place to place, looking for the most tender and most nutritious plants.
High in the mountains, alpacas can only rely on themselves, so if necessary, they are satisfied with simple food. Only a few wealthy farmers allow alpacas to graze in meadows covered with grass, alfalfa or clover. During the day, alpacas feed in the meadows, and at night the animals sleep. In the evening they chew the food they have eaten during the day. Alpacas require regular watering. To obtain high-quality wool, livestock breeders give animals mineral supplements. One acre can feed 6 to 10 alpacas, but breeders tend to supplement their diet with hay and minerals.
ALPACA AND MAN. Alpacas have been a domestic animal for over 2,000 years.
Alpacas began to be bred a very long time ago - the Incas did it about 500 BC. These animals were raised for their wool, meat and leather. The Incas did not even throw away their dung because it could be used as fuel. It is not surprising that in the past alpacas were called the “gold of the Incas”. For modern Indians, the alpaca remains an important pet. Alpacas are raised primarily for their wool. Chile, Argentina and Peru are home to semi-wild herds of alpacas that are captured only for shearing. There are two types of alpacas. Sura wool is considered especially valuable. The wool of these alpacas forms twisted braids, it is longer and shiny than in UAKI. Wool UAKI very thick and soft.
REPRODUCTION. An hour after birth, the cub is already on its feet.
Wild ancestors of the alpaca- vicuñas - keep in family herds, which consist of an adult leader, several females and their cubs. Harems living in their own areas, sometimes uniting into large herds.
Only the leader mates with the females in each harem. Fights between males for position in the herd or for females happen all the time and can be very fierce. When breeding alpacas in captivity, the situation changes, since alpaca breeding is controlled by humans. Animals of both sexes are usually kept in different enclosures, and only selected males are allowed to mate. Female alpacas ovulate when they come into contact with a male, so an alpaca can become pregnant at any time. Cubs are born after 11 months. Newborns weigh only one kilogram, but grow very quickly. After 9 months, when lactation stops, their weight already reaches 30 kg. The cubs grow quite quickly until their third year of life. Females can mate immediately after giving birth, but usually produce young once every two years. Alpaca fertility is not high. Females often experience miscarriages.
PLACE OF RESIDENCE. High in the mountains, forests and coasts of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, alpacas are found in large quantities. The alpaca is one of two domesticated species of the llama genus. All animals that are found in large areas are kept in captivity or lead a semi-wild lifestyle. The largest herds of alpacas are found in the Peruvian highlands and in the highlands of the Andes, where they graze, often reaching the snow line. The Peruvian highlands are located at an altitude of 800 m above sea level. The only wild plants that grow here are herbs. Some breeders try to enrich local meadows with other plant species to increase the amount of food for alpacas.
Alpacas are also bred high in the mountains. In these areas, it is the only profitable agricultural activity, since the vegetation there is sparse and the climate is very harsh.
Did you know? That the red blood cells of all callouses are not round, but oval in shape.
The alpaca, like other humpless camels in America, has so many red blood cells that it can easily breathe thin mountain air.
The natural wool of pure white alpacas lends itself well to dyeing, but it is very rare. Such wool is in great demand and sells at high prices, so Peruvians are interested in breeding albinos alpacas.
Alpaca counts miniature view lam.
When communicating with each other, alpacas widely use body language that is unfamiliar to us (stance, position of ears, neck).

Cub: Has a soft, creamy coat that darkens with age. A newborn weighs about 1 kg. His weight reaches 30 kg during the 9 months he feeds on milk.
Muzzle: split upper lip and incisors lower jaw, constantly growing, allowing the alpaci to eat different types plants.
Wool: very fine. There is practically no difference between the length of the undercoat and the guard hair. The fur is constantly growing. The color varies from white to brown-black, sometimes there is a pattern of white and brown spots on the body.
PLACES OF RESIDENCE. Alpacas are bred in a semi-wild state from the south of Peru to the north of Chile and Argentina. Due to the growing demand for alpaca wool, alpaca breeding has become popular in other countries in South America.
Saving. The number of animals today is estimated at 3 million and is constantly increasing, due to the growing demand for alpaca wool.

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Alpaca - the heritage of the ancient Incas

Among all the known species of domestic animals that are bred primarily for their wool, special place occupied by alpacas. For several thousand years these beautiful and unusual four-legged animals have been distant relatives camels are raised by the inhabitants of the high Andes, primarily the Peruvians. Alpaca wool has unique properties and is highly valued; in ancient times, it was used to make robes for the Inca kings. Currently, alpaca fabric is one of the most prestigious materials, and fiber exports are an important part of Peru's economy.

These attractive and peaceful domesticated animals are not very tall (up to a meter) in height and have a very thick fur coat. Biologically, they are divided into two subspecies: huacaya. which is the main supplier of wool raw materials, and suri, a rarer variety. Absolutely smooth, plush-like, suri wool is valued twice as much and is practically never sold on a mass scale.

Alpacas live in conditions sharp drop temperatures and high level ultraviolet radiation, and as a result of evolution they acquired very thick, thin and long wool, which retains heat seven times better than sheep's. It completely lacks coarse guard hairs, as well as fatty lubricant, which gives specific smell wool of other animals, which prevents pollution and the reproduction of insects. The natural color of fleece is black, brown (dark or light), gray (blue), white (more than twenty different shades in total). Individual hairs are particularly smooth and have a characteristic silky shine; huacaya has light curls to maintain an air gap. The fibers reach 20 cm in length, and the main criterion for their quality category is thickness:

• over 32 microns – adult;
• up to 25 microns – especially soft;
• up to 22 microns – baby;
• up to 19 microns – royal.

During one haircut, which is performed once a year, up to 3.5 kg of valuable fleece is removed, which is processed by hand. The small yield of wool, as well as the low prevalence of these animals, which retain their uniqueness only in their natural habitat, explains high cost this fiber. For high-quality wool, natural colors are preserved. Cheaper alpaca fabrics and a variety of ethnic-style items are made from dyed fibers.

Properties of alpaca

The value and prestige of this natural fiber is explained by its unique properties, primarily the following:

1. “Automatic” thermoregulation – alpaca products are equally comfortable at high and low temperatures.
2. Repels external moisture while simultaneously allowing water vapor to pass away from the skin.
3. Durability with low weight.
4. Resistance to deformation and no shrinkage when wet.
5. Due to the fact that there are no scales on the surface of the wool, alpaca does not mat or roll down, has a beautiful natural shine and is very pleasant to the touch.
6. The absence of grease makes this fiber completely safe for allergy sufferers, resistant to insect damage and very durable.
7. Alpaca practically does not get wet and does not absorb dirt.
8. Therapeutic effect and increased blood circulation upon contact with the skin.

Of course, the high cost makes alpaca wool affordable for few. Suri alpaca fiber is processed only on individual orders. More affordable in cost are mixed materials containing sheep wool, viscose, polyester, the properties of which are also very good: they are beautiful, light and retain heat well. Unfavorable reviews of such fabric are explained solely by the dishonesty of suppliers, who do not always give correct description its composition.

What to sew from alpaca?

Until the beginning of the last century, this material was known mainly on the American continent. It entered Europe in the thirties as an exotic novelty, and alpaca owes its fame primarily to Italian designers, who for almost half a century have been regularly demonstrating collections in which alpaca occupies a prominent place.

The main purpose of this material is stylish and elegant coats, suits, dresses, which can often be seen in photos of movie stars and other celebrities. As a rule, these luxury items are outside of fashion trends; they have a laconic cut and natural fiber color. Alpaca knitwear is very popular because it is durable, does not deform or fray, and does not cause irritation to the skin, including children’s. Light, durable and comfortable tracksuits made from this exotic wool are highly sought after.

Alpaca yarn is available separately. It's not cheap (although it usually uses the lowest grade fiber), but it produces durable, clear-cut designs that can be unraveled and re-knotted many times, and are ideal for babies.

Another area of ​​use for alpaca is the production of warm blankets, rugs, other home knitwear, as well as a variety of ethnic style products - ponchos, hats, jumpers and jackets with bright ethnic patterns. Such things are very comfortable, they protect well from cold and bad weather. and serve for a long time. without losing its attractive appearance. Sometimes they are used by several generations of a family.

How to preserve unique properties? Care

Caring for alpaca products is not particularly difficult, but requires certain subtleties. First of all, the rule “you wear it every day and wash it” is not observed in this case. Since alpaca wool practically does not absorb dirt, it is recommended to wash items made from it only after they have been worn at least seven times.

• It is recommended to wash by hand using cool water and mild detergents.
• There is no need to unscrew the products, you just need to let the water drain, carefully straighten them and lay them out horizontally.

You can even wash a coat in exactly the same way, after which you need to iron it from the inside out through a damp pad and comb the pile with a brush. Expensive thing It's better to take it to the dry cleaner. However, such a need rarely arises; in most cases, a coat or suit restores its appearance, “hanging” on the hangers.

It should also be remembered that the properties of alpaca deteriorate when in contact with chemical repellents.

Therefore, when storing such a thing in the closet, use only natural repellents.

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