THE ALPACA'S HABITAT

ALPACA BREEDING

ALPACA FIBRE

SOUTH AMERICAN CAMELIDS

PERUVIAN HIGHLAND WOOL

Alpacas are indigenous to the Peruvian highlands, where they have been domesticated since the time of Pre-lncan cultures. There are an estimated of 3.5 to 4 million Alpacas in South America; approximately 95% being found in the Southern regions of Peru.

Alpacas are bred in altitudes ranging from 3,500 to over 4,500 metres above sea level, where they can naturally withstand temperatures that fluctuate between -20°C to +30°C in a single day, surviving on a special low-protein diet based on natural grasses.

Huacayo

LAMA PACOS

Huacayo is the predominant Alpaca type. Its fine and bulky fleece offers the widest range of natural shades. Huacayos have a harmonious shape giving an appearance of strength and gracefulness. Around 90% of the Alpaca population in Peru is Huacayo.

Suri

SURI

Suri is the least predominant Alpaca type. It has a long, shiny and silky fibre. Its fleece occurs in a narrow range of natural shades - white, fawns and light browns. The Suri shape has a distinctive look due to its long, curly hair. Around 10% of the Alpaca population in Peru is Suri.

Llama

LAMA GLAMA

Llama (Lama glama) is the heaviest and largest South American camelid. Its long legs as well as the prominent and crooked ears are one of the main features that distinguish Llamas from the other camelids.  Llamas have been domesticated and used as beasts of burden for transportation since Pre-Incan times. Even to date, llamas form part of the many customs and religious rituals of the Andean people. There are two llama types: ‘Qara’ or hairless and ‘Chaku’ or woolly. Llama hair is coarser than Alpaca hair, however, if dehaired it can be as soft as the Alpaca. Some 65% of the world's llamas live in the high plateau region of the Bolivian Andes.

Guanaco

LAMA GUANACOE

like Vicuña, are wild camelids that live in small bands of females, usually led by a male. There are approximately 600,000 Guanacos in South America with 90% living in Patagonia and Argentina, and in small numbers in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Guanaco fibre presents tactile characteristics that demonstrate its extreme high quality. Another characteristic is its reddish-shade fibre.  Guanacos are the only South American camelids that adapt easily to different environments. They can live either at sea level or in the Andes at altitudes of over 4,600 metres above sea level.

Vicuña

VICUGNA

Is the smallest of the South American Camelids, with a shoulder height of around 90cm and a weight of around 50kgs.  There are approximately 180,000 Vicuñas in South America the majority of which inhabit Peru, with smaller numbers in Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The Vicuña is covered with a remarkable long, fine, soft and lustrous coat.  The annual yield of sheared Vicuña fleece is approximately 250grs per animal. Its hair is considered the finest animal fibre in the world. Vicuñas were on the verge of extinction in the 1960’s. However thanks to various Peruvian conservation programmes, today Vicuñas no longer face this danger.

CROSS BREED WOOLS

Peruvian Highland Wool comes from a crossbreed sheep that lives in the Peruvian highlands at over 2,000m above sea level. These crossbreed animals derive from Corridale and Merinos, and the environment in which they live allow them to produce a wool that is very dry, crimpy and durable. Its micron ranges from 24.5mic to 28.5mics and occurs in raw white and some undyed colour or Eco colours.