Alpaca is a natural fibre obtained from the fleece of the South American alpaca animal, which belongs to the camelid family, related to the llama.
The Alpaca fibre, known for its fineness, softness, and warmth, comes in various natural colours, including shades of white, brown, and black. The fibre also has hypoallergenic properties, making it versatile and suitable for a wide range of luxurious and comfortable products [1].
The history of alpaca fibre can be traced back to the indigenous people of the Andes Mountains in South America, notably the Inca Empire, around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. People domesticated alpacas for their luxurious fibre, which played a crucial role in the clothing and textiles of the Andean civilizations. The Spanish Conquest in the 16th century led to a decline in alpaca populations, but efforts to preserve and promote the breed began in the mid-20th century.
The Peruvian Andes, as stated by the International Association of Alpacas, contribute to 80% of the world’s alpaca production; however, alpaca farming has now expanded to communities around the globe.
Alpacas are well-suited to natural grazing, and their padded feet are gentler on the land than some other livestock’s hooves. Farmers rotate grazing to prevent overgrazing and soil degradation. Clothes crafted from this high-quality, durable yarn require less frequent replacement, which is beneficial from an environmental perspective.
Alpaca fibre, in its untreated form, is fully biodegradable, but factors such as dye, toxic chemicals, blended fibres, and trims can impede biodegradability.
The process of collecting alpaca fibre is known as shearing and is done by using electric clippers every year in spring or early summer. After shearing, fleece is sorted by colour and quality, considering factors like alpaca’s natural colours, fineness, and length. Then, it goes through a cleaning process to remove impurities like dust, dirt, and vegetable matter. The cleaned and sorted fibres are then carded, which involves separating and aligning the individual fibres to prepare them for spinning. Carding can be done by hand or using mechanical carding machines. After carding, the fibres are spun into yarn using spinning wheels or other spinning equipment. This step transforms the loose fibres into a continuous strand of yarn.
The spun yard may undergo additional processing steps to achieve the desired characteristics and colours, such as dyeing or blending with other fibres. After spinning the yard, it’s woven or knitted into a finished product [3].
Sources
- The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) – Alpaca
- How Fibershed (October 28, 2021) – Farms Raising Alpacas Sustainably
- The British Alpaca Society – Alpaca fibre
October 2023 RETHINK | Revised May 2024
