Why Buy Alpaca?
When there are so many options available, many people may wonder, why buy alpaca?
To begin with alpaca fleece is naturally hypoallergenic. The fiber of an alpaca requires no chemical process to make it safe and comfortable to wear. That is in contrast to wool, which needs to be washed to get rid of the lanolin. It’s the lanolin that tends to create an allergic reaction in most people. In addition, most wool is coarse, which causes it to feel itchy, where as alpaca is very fine and soft. Even extremely sensitive skin can enjoy wearing alpaca with little or no itch.
How is the fiber measured for softness? The fiber of an alpaca is measured by its microns. These microns tell you how fine or soft the animals’ fleece is. The lower the micron rating, the softer the fiber. For those who are looking for high quality alpaca fleece and products, look for the micron rating or words like “baby alpaca”. Baby alpaca simply means that it is the softest variety available (under 20 microns). It does not imply that the fiber was taken from a baby alpaca.
In addition to being soft, the alpaca fleece is very light weight. The fiber of an alpaca is designed in a unique way. Each strand is actually hollow. This makes it a great insulator. So even a thin scarf or pair of socks will keep you very warm. That results in less bulky winter accessories.
Alpaca fiber occurs in twenty-two natural colors. This means that you can buy a product that is naturally beautiful. No dying is necessary to achieve many colors, unless your favorite color is purple. But don’t despair, if your favorite color is purple, you can get the fiber dyed. To maintain the naturalness of the fiber, some choose to dye it with natural ingredients like vegetable proteins or Kool-Aid.
Alpacas are considered a “green” animal. Alpacas provide a renewable resource. They are sheared annually with no harm to them. In fact in warmer climates they appreciate the “air conditioning” the shearing provides for the summer. By the time cooler temperatures set in, they have their blanket back to keep them warm. What about their footprint on the environment? It is very small. In fact you will find that most farms utilize everything they can from the alpaca. The alpaca beans, as they are affectionately called, offer a great source for composting and fertilizer. They also take good care of their pastures. How? Unlike sheep or horses, alpacas don’t rip out the grass in their pasture. They actually cut it with their teeth. This greatly reduces the wear and tear on the pasture. On top of that, they eat less since they chew the cud. In other words, they utilize their three stomachs to really get the most nutrition out of their food. Isn’t it nice that they do all of these great environmentally sound practices without being asked?
Overall alpacas give us so much to enjoy. They are fun, curious, and lovable animals that also provide us a fantastic way to keep warm. So the next time you are in the market for a new scarf, sweater or pair of socks, why not try alpaca?
When there are so many options available, many people may wonder, why buy alpaca?
To begin with alpaca fleece is naturally hypoallergenic. The fiber of an alpaca requires no chemical process to make it safe and comfortable to wear. That is in contrast to wool, which needs to be washed to get rid of the lanolin. It’s the lanolin that tends to create an allergic reaction in most people. In addition, most wool is coarse, which causes it to feel itchy, where as alpaca is very fine and soft. Even extremely sensitive skin can enjoy wearing alpaca with little or no itch.
How is the fiber measured for softness? The fiber of an alpaca is measured by its microns. These microns tell you how fine or soft the animals’ fleece is. The lower the micron rating, the softer the fiber. For those who are looking for high quality alpaca fleece and products, look for the micron rating or words like “baby alpaca”. Baby alpaca simply means that it is the softest variety available (under 20 microns). It does not imply that the fiber was taken from a baby alpaca.
In addition to being soft, the alpaca fleece is very light weight. The fiber of an alpaca is designed in a unique way. Each strand is actually hollow. This makes it a great insulator. So even a thin scarf or pair of socks will keep you very warm. That results in less bulky winter accessories.
Alpaca fiber occurs in twenty-two natural colors. This means that you can buy a product that is naturally beautiful. No dying is necessary to achieve many colors, unless your favorite color is purple. But don’t despair, if your favorite color is purple, you can get the fiber dyed. To maintain the naturalness of the fiber, some choose to dye it with natural ingredients like vegetable proteins or Kool-Aid.
Alpacas are considered a “green” animal. Alpacas provide a renewable resource. They are sheared annually with no harm to them. In fact in warmer climates they appreciate the “air conditioning” the shearing provides for the summer. By the time cooler temperatures set in, they have their blanket back to keep them warm. What about their footprint on the environment? It is very small. In fact you will find that most farms utilize everything they can from the alpaca. The alpaca beans, as they are affectionately called, offer a great source for composting and fertilizer. They also take good care of their pastures. How? Unlike sheep or horses, alpacas don’t rip out the grass in their pasture. They actually cut it with their teeth. This greatly reduces the wear and tear on the pasture. On top of that, they eat less since they chew the cud. In other words, they utilize their three stomachs to really get the most nutrition out of their food. Isn’t it nice that they do all of these great environmentally sound practices without being asked?
Overall alpacas give us so much to enjoy. They are fun, curious, and lovable animals that also provide us a fantastic way to keep warm. So the next time you are in the market for a new scarf, sweater or pair of socks, why not try alpaca?