Alpaca fiber is a natural, renewable resource. They are shorn once a year and are not harmed in the shearing process.
Overview of Fleece Characteristics of Huacaya and Suri
16 Natural Colors
White, Beige, Black and shades of Fawns, Browns, Silver Grey & Rose Grey
Eco-Friendly
Can be used without dyeing due to a large array of natural colors
Can be washed at lower temperatures without harsh chemicals
Considered to be hypoallergenic
Lack of lanolin
Uniquely low scale structure preventing prickle
Other Attributes
Moisture resistant in absorbency
Moisture regain 8%
Flame resistant
High tensile strength, but strength does not diminish as it becomes finer Resistant to pilling
Stain Resistant
Handle
Scale structure
Smoother scale = better handle
Uniformity of micron
Products created with a very uniform micron will produce a more pleasing handle than their micron size indicates
End use suggestions based on micron
• 18-20 – underwear, high fashion fabric, suiting
• 20-23 – fine to medium knit-wear, men’s suiting, lightweight worsteds, hand knitting yarn
• 23-26 – woven outwear, machine and hand knitting yarns
• 24-29 – socks, fine felting, and heavy woven outerwear
• 30+ interior textiles, carpets, and industrial felting
Industry Considerations:
Produces a high yield of clean fiber after processing….80-85% versus 43-67% for wool
Most alpaca fleece does not have to be de-haired like cashmere, llama or camel
Easy to dye or over-dye using animal protein type dyes or natural dyes with mordants
Natural high sheen
Blends well with other natural fibers such as cotton, silk, bamboo, mohair & wool