white and brown alpacas

About Baby Alpaca Fibre

 

It is no wonder that alpaca fibre was once considered a treasure of the ancient Incas. Its fleece is exceptionally soft, hypoallergenic, water repellent, lightweight and very durable.

The softest and finest fibre,  known as baby alpaca, does not come from newborn animals and the term is just a type of grading to describe how fine the fibre is (19,5-21,5 microns). It is this type of fleece that is used to produce Tuwi’s warm and cosy blankets and throws.

In its softness baby alpaca fleece is comparable to cashmere although some believe it has softer silky feel due to its longer fibres.

Alpaca is up to five times warmer than the common sheep’s wool. Thanks to the air pockets that are ONLY found in alpaca fibres, this fleece has outstanding thermal qualities, which bring warmth in cold weather and keep the body cool in heat.

About Baby Alpaca Fibre

 

It is no wonder that alpaca fibre was once considered a treasure of the ancient Incas. Its fleece is exceptionally soft, hypoallergenic, water repellent, lightweight and very durable.

The softest and finest fibre — known as baby alpaca — comes from alpaca’s underside of the neck and underbelly or from the first shearing of the alpaca, which is usually before it turns 1. It doesn’t come from newborn animals and the term is just a type of grading to describe how fine the fibre is (19,5-21,5 microns). It is this type of fleece that is used to produce Tuwi’s warm and cosy blankets and throws.

In its softness baby alpaca fleece is comparable to cashmere although some believe it has softer silky feel due to its longer fibres.

Alpaca is up to five times warmer than the common sheep’s wool. Thanks to the air pockets that are ONLY found in alpaca fibres, this fleece has outstanding thermal qualities, which bring warmth in cold weather and keep the body cool in heat.

It is naturally free of lanolin and other oils found in sheep’s wool, so it’s not prickly and can be worn on the skin without causing irritation. It is also is a reason why the fibre is less likely to peel.

For many years alpaca fibre was a rarity outside South America, but the luxurious texture and softness is becoming more and more popular with the fashion and textile industry. Once a fibre reserved for South American royalty, it is now entering households worldwide.

It is naturally free of lanolin and other oils found in sheep’s wool, so it’s not prickly and can be worn on the skin without causing irritation. It is also is a reason why the fibre is less likely to pill.

For many years alpaca fibre was a rarity outside South America, but the luxurious texture and softness is becoming more and more popular with the fashion and textile industry. Once a fibre reserved for South American royalty, it is now entering households worldwide.

About Alpaca

 

Alpacas live in South America and graze at high altitudes in the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. They are friendly, gentle, and inquisitive animals, which for centuries have been bred for their unique fibre. The oldest known records of these charming animals date back to 3,500BC. Living at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to over 4,500 meters over the sea level, alpacas endure extreme climates from freezing nights in winter to scorching heat in summer, and it is this habitat that has helped their fur evolve. Nature designed the perfect insulating fibre and the animals are shorn in a friendly way at appropriate time of the year. They are also said to enjoy having a haircut far more than sheep.

Rearing alpacas is more environmentally friendly than rearing other animals for fibres. With one alpaca you can make up to four sweaters, while it takes four goats to produce sufficient cashmere for a single sweater.

Alpacas also graze extensively rather than intensively. Unlike cashmere goats, they do not pull out the roots of the plants which they eat, thus preserving their pastures — a truly eco-friendly attitude. Furthermore alpacas are more rare, with only 4,5mln alpacas worldwide compared to over 430 mln cashmere goats.

Alpaca fur comes in range of more than twenty naturally gorgeous colours, from inky black to warm chestnuts and snowy white.