|
Alpaca fiber is one of the most luxurious natural fibers. In the time of the Incas, it was reserved for royalty. Today, it is prized by the worlds fashion houses and is made into high priced garments. Even lesser quality fiber has a place in todays market, for uses such as rugs, blankets and for making felt.
Alpaca is considered a specialty fiber. Worldwide fiber production is less than other specialty fibers, at approximately 4,000 tons yearly. This compares with 5000 tons/year of cashmere and 22,000 tons/year of mohair. North American alpaca accounts for less than one percent of total worldwide annual production. The North American alpaca fiber market is in its infancy, with incredible room for expansion and development of this natural fiber resource.
Here are some of the characteristics of alpaca fiber that make it such a unique fiber :
The fiber comes in 22 natural colors, the most of any fleece bearing animal. It is softer, stronger and lighter than wool, and contains no lanloin so needs no chemical scouring.
Alpaca is semi-hollow, containing tiny air pockets. This makes a comparable alpaca garment considerably lighter weight than solid fiber-based apparel. For instance, skiiers would appreciate alpaca "long johns" - it is as warm as synthetic fiber, but is much lighter.
There has been much talk about wool allergies. True wool allergies are rare. If a person is allergic to lanolin, they will have no reaction to alpaca fiber as it contains no lanolin. The majority of the problems people experience when they wear wool is due to the thickness of the fibers composing the garment. The thickness of any fiber is measured in microns, or one millionth of a micron. Fiber over 30 microns will trigger pain receptors in the skin, causing the itching and scratching often experienced when a person wears wool. If a garment is made of fiber than are in the 20 micron range (which "next to the skin" alpaca should be), there will be no reaction by pain receptors, and the garment will feel soft.
| 
