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Alpaca are animals from the South American camelid family. The camelids include vicuna, guanaco, llama and alpaca. Bred for several thousand years by the people of Peru, Chile and Bolivia, alpacas produce a fleece in a wide array of colors. Alpacas are raised primarily for their soft, cashmere-like fiber which was once reserved exclusively for Inca royalty. The fiber is very strong and resilient and has a high insulation value yet is lightweight. Alpacas are the only animal that produce over 20 natural shades of color. The fiber can also be dyed to any color without losing it's natural luster.
There are two types of Alpacas, Huacaya and Suri.The Huacaya fiber is very crimpy and fluffly while the Suri has silky lusterous pencil fine locks. Both fibers are very fine but tend to yield slightly different types of yarn. The Suri are very rare and products made from their fiber command a premium price.
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Are alpacas harmed to get the fleece?
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No. Alpacas are sheared each spring much in the same way as sheep. The fleece is not wool but hair. After the shearing the alpacas are much cooler and more comfortable for the summer months. By the time that cooler weather arrives, the fleece has grown back several inches and the alpaca is warm for the winter.
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Are Alpaca garments durable?
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Alpaca fiber contains natural characteristics which help it to maintain it's soft and luxurious qualities over time. The fiber is naturally resistant to piling, wrinkling and staining. It's super insulated, blocks UV light and is silky soft yet extremely resilient.
The natural colored garments will not bleed or fade because the color is inherent in the structure of the fibers. Dyed garments may bleed slightly at first washing, so always wash separately. Alpaca fiber takes dyes very well so little fading should be expected.
Many people have had alpaca garments for years and years.
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How do I care for Alpaca garments?
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Most simple sweaters and accessories made from alpaca may be hand washed in cool water with a mild soap and laid flat to dry. Or you can use a fabric care product that steam cleans "Dry Clean Only" fabrics in your dryer. Structured coats, jackets, finely woven or intricately detailed garments should be dry-cleaned.
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