|
HISTORY OF ALPACAS
The earliest known
record of alpacas derives from cave
paintings found in the Andean Mountains.
Alpacas were perhaps the world's first
domestic animals, the "cattle" of South
America. They were the foundation of the
prosperous Inca civilization, and the
basis of their wealth. Even after the
Spanish conquered Peru, the alpaca was
considered legal tender by its native
population.
ALPACAS
TODAY
Today, the Peruvian
government maintains the alpaca as a
national resource and seeks to control the
supply of fleece by limiting the export of
alpaca breeding stock. Of the world's
commercial fibers, only vicuna is more
rare than alpaca.
Approximately 3.5
million alpaca live in Peru. The herd size
has been static for many years.
Additionally, about 1.25 million alpaca
live in Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. The
South American alpaca thrive in altitudes
up to 17,000 feet or more and are
generally not found below 12,000 feet, the
exception being alpacas raised in the
United States. Although efforts have been
made to raise the animals on a commercial
scale, most of the alpaca are owned,
herded, and sheared by Native Peruvians
who do not have a marketing agenda. In the
United States, alpaca are being
domesticated as exotic livestock and live
well even at sea level.
ALPACA
FACTS
The alpaca is a
member of the cameloid family. There are
two kinds of alpaca: the Huacayo and the
Suri. The Huacayo has dense curly hair and
the Suri has long straight hair, sometimes
measuring up to 16 inches. The alpaca is
approximately 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet high. It
has large fringed eyes, well-shaped lips,
a fluff of hair on it's forehead, and a
tail that lays flat against it's rump.
Four to seven pounds
of fleece can be sheared from an alpaca
every year. Usually shearing does not
begin until an animal is four years old.
Alpaca live ten to twelve years. The suri
alpaca produces the finer fleece and only
7% of alpaca are of this superior breed.
The fineness of the fiber determines the
quality of the yarn. Baby alpaca which
generally comes from the chest of the
alpaca is around 22.5 microns and
superfine alpaca is 25.5 microns. The
microns are a measurement of the diameter
of the fiber.
FEATURES
AND BENEFITS
Alpaca fleece is
valuable because it is rare and because it
combines so many positive attributes in a
single fiber. Alpaca is fine, soft,
lustrous and durable. Its fineness allows
air to be trapped in the finished garment
providing thermal insulation and warmth
without weight. Alpaca fiber has a tensile
strength 300% higher than ordinary sheep
wool.
An alpaca sweater
will not pill, ball or wear thin. Alpaca
sweaters are easy to clean through dry
cleaning or by gently handwashing in cold
water with a mild detergent and blocking
to dry. A light iron provides the
finishing touch. Alpaca is found naturally
in 22 shades ranging from white to black
and accepts dyes well without losing
luster.
ECO
-
FRIENDLY PRODUCT
Alpaca is
environmentally sound in terms of it's
production and processing. No chemicals
are employed in either the feed of the
animals or in the industrial production of
the fleece into fiber. Alpaca is a
renewable resource.
|
