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Peruvian Alpacas and the unique properties of their wool. What is alpaca in the composition of yarn and fabric

Alpaca - the legacy of the ancient Incas

Among all known types of domestic animals, which are bred primarily for wool, alpaca occupy a special place. For several millennia, these beautiful and unusual tetrapods, distant relatives of camels, have been raised by the inhabitants of the highland Andes, primarily the Peruvians. Alpaca wool has unique properties and is highly prized; in ancient times, garments for the Inca kings were made from it. Alpaca fabric is currently one of the most prestigious materials and fiber exports are an important part of the Peruvian economy.

These attractive and peaceful domesticated animals are not very large (up to a meter) in height and a very thick fur coat. Biologically, they are divided into two subspecies: wakaya. which is the main supplier of raw wool, and suri, a rarer variety. Absolutely smooth, plush-like, suri wool is valued twice as much and practically does not go on the mass market.

Alpacas live in conditions of sharp temperature changes and high levels of ultraviolet radiation, and as a result of evolution they have acquired very thick, thin and long hair that retains heat seven times better than sheep's. It completely lacks coarse guard hairs, as well as grease, which gives a specific smell to the wool of other animals, which prevents pollution and insect reproduction. The natural color of the rune is black, brown (dark or light), gray (blue), white (more than twenty different shades in total). The individual hairs are particularly smooth and have a characteristic silky sheen, while the wakaya have light curls to preserve the air gap. Fibers reach 20 cm in length, and the main criterion for their quality category is thickness:

  • over 32 microns - adult;
  • up to 25 microns - especially soft;
  • up to 22 microns - baby;
  • up to 19 microns - royal.

For one haircut, which is performed once a year, up to 3.5 kg of valuable fleece is removed, which is processed by hand. The low yield of wool, as well as the low prevalence of these animals, which retain their uniqueness only in their natural habitat, explains the high cost of this fiber. Keeps natural coloration for high quality wool... Cheaper alpaca fabrics and a variety of ethnic style products are made from dyed fibers.

Alpaca properties

The value and prestige of this natural fiber is explained by its unique properties, primarily the following:

  1. "Automatic" thermoregulation - alpaca products are equally comfortable at high and low temperatures.
  2. Repulsion of external moisture while passing water vapor away from the skin.
  3. Durability with low weight.
  4. Resistant to deformation and no shrinkage when wet.
  5. Due to the fact that there are no scales on the surface of the hairs, the alpaca does not fall off, does not roll, has a beautiful natural shine and is very pleasant to the touch.
  6. The lack of grease makes this fiber completely safe for allergy sufferers, resistant to insect damage and very durable.
  7. Alpaca practically does not get wet and does not absorb dirt.
  8. Healing effect and increased blood circulation in contact with the skin.

Of course, the high cost makes alpaca wool available to few. Alpaca suri fiber is processed only for individual orders. Blended materials with the inclusion of sheep wool, viscose, polyester are more affordable in cost, the properties of which are also very good: they are beautiful, lightweight and retain heat well. Adverse reviews for such fabric are explained solely by the dishonesty of suppliers, who do not always give a correct description of its composition.

What to sew from alpaca?

Until the beginning of the last century, this material was known mainly on the American continent. It entered Europe in the thirties as an exotic novelty, and alpaca owes its fame, first of all, to Italian designers, who for almost half a century have regularly shown collections where alpaca occupies a prominent place.

The main purpose of such material is stylish and elegant coats, suits, dresses, which can often be seen in photos of movie stars and other celebrities. As a rule, these elite items are out of fashion trends, they have a laconic cut and natural fiber color. Alpaca jerseys are very popular, which are durable, do not deform or rub, do not irritate the skin, including children. Lightweight, durable and comfortable tracksuits made from this exotic wool are highly valued.

Alpaca yarn is produced separately. It is not cheap (although it usually uses the lowest grade fiber), but it allows you to create durable products with a clear pattern, which can also be opened and tied many times, and are ideal for toddlers.

Another area of ​​alpaca use is the manufacture of warm blankets, blankets, other home knitwear, as well as a variety of ethnic style products - ponchos, hats, jumpers and jackets with bright ethnic ornaments. Such things are very comfortable, they protect well from cold and bad weather. and serve for a long time. without losing its attractive appearance. Sometimes they are used by several generations of a family.

How to preserve unique properties? Care

Caring for alpaca products is not particularly difficult, but it requires adherence to certain subtleties. First of all, the rule “you wear it for a day and to wash” is not observed in this case. Since alpaca wool practically does not adsorb dirt, it is recommended to wash things made from it only after they have been worn at least seven times.

  • It is recommended to wash by hand using cool water and mild detergents.
  • You do not need to twist the products, you just need to let the water drain, carefully straighten them and spread them horizontally.

Even a coat can be washed in the same way, after which it must be ironed from the inside out through a damp pad and comb the pile with a brush. It is better to have an expensive item dry-cleaned. However, such a need rarely arises; in most cases, a coat or suit regains its appearance, "hanging" on the shoulders.

It should also be remembered that alpaca's properties deteriorate when in contact with chemical repellents.

Therefore, when storing such a thing in the closet, use only natural deterrents.

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Alpaca - This is a domesticated species of llamas, humpless representatives of the camel family. Thanks to its extremely thick coat, it is perfectly adapted to life at high altitudes.
SIZE
Height at withers: 94-104 cm.
Weight 55-65 kg.
REPRODUCTION
Puberty: usually from 2 years of age.
Mating season: all year.
Pregnancy: 11 months.
Number of cubs: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habits: herd animals; active during the day.
Food: herbs and perennials.
Life expectancy: grown up to seven years of age, in nature it can live up to 25 years.
Related species... Other American calluses are the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), the house llama (Lama guanicoe f.glama), and the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna).
Alpacas are usually bred only for the sake of their wool. The alpaca is thought to be the result of crossing a domestic llama with a vicuna. Numerous attempts to acclimate the alpaca in Europe and Africa ended in failure, as people ignored the fact that the alpaca is an animal of the high plains.
FOOD . Most of all, alpaca loves young fresh grass, but in general, the animal is unpretentious in food.
As in other calluses, the upper lip of the alpaca is bifurcated. Alpacas eat almost the same food as horses. These animals graze high in the mountains. While searching for food, alpacas move very slowly, carefully exploring the highlands in search of food suitable for them. Small herds of these animals move from place to place, looking for the most delicate and most nutritious plants.
High in the mountains, alpacas can only rely on themselves, so if necessary, they are satisfied with simple food. Only a few well-to-do farmers allow alpacas to graze in grasslands, alfalfa or clover. During the day, alpacas feed in the meadows, and at night the animals sleep. In the evening, they chew on the food they have eaten during the day. Alpacas require regular watering. To obtain high-quality wool, livestock breeders provide animals with mineral supplements. An acre can feed 6 to 10 alpacas, but breeders are keen to add hay and minerals to their diet.
ALPACA AND MAN... The alpaca has been a pet for over 2,000 years.
Alpaca began to be bred a very long time ago - it was done by the Incas about 500 BC. These animals were raised for wool, meat and leather. Even their manure was not thrown away by the Incas, as it can be used as fuel. Unsurprisingly, alpacas have been called the "gold of the Incas" in the past. For modern Indians, the alpaca remains an important pet. Alpacas are grown mainly for their wool. Chile, Argentina and Peru are home to semi-wild herds of alpacas, which are caught only for shearing. There are two types of alpacas. Sura wool is considered especially valuable. The wool of these alpacas forms twisted braids, it is longer and shinier than in UAKI... Wool UAKI very thick and soft.
REPRODUCTION. An hour after birth, the cub is already on its feet.
Wild ancestors of the alpaca- vicuñas - kept by family herds, which consist of an adult leader, several females and their cubs. Harems living on their own plots, sometimes uniting in large herds.
Only the leader mates with females in each harem. Fights of males for a position in a herd or a female happen constantly and are very fierce. When breeding alpacas in captivity, the situation changes, since the reproduction of alpacas is controlled by a person. Animals of both sexes, as a rule, are kept in different enclosures, and only selected males are allowed to mate. In female alpacas, ovulation occurs upon contact with the male, so alpacas can become pregnant at any time. Cubs are born after 11 months. Newborns weigh only one kilogram, but they grow very quickly. After 9 months, when lactation stops, their weight already reaches 30 kg. Cubs grow rather quickly until the third year of life. Females can mate immediately after giving birth, but they usually bring cubs once every two years. The fertility of alpacas is not high. Females often have miscarriages.
PLACE OF RESIDENCE... High in the mountains, forests and along the coast of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, alpacas are found in large numbers. The alpaca is one of two domesticated species of the llama genus. All animals that are found in large areas, kept in captivity or lead a semi-wild lifestyle. The most herds of alpacas are found in the Peruvian Highlands and in the highlands of the Andes, where they graze, often reaching the border of snow. The Peruvian Highlands are 800 m above sea level. Only herbs grow here from wild plants. Some livestock breeders are trying to enrich the local meadows with other plant species in order to increase the amount of food for the alpacas.
Alpacas are also bred high in the mountains. In these areas, this is a single profitable agricultural activity, since there is sparse vegetation and the climate is very harsh.
Did you know? That the red blood cells of all calluses are not round, but oval.
Alpacas, like other humpless camels in America, have so many red blood cells that they can easily breathe the thin mountain air.
The natural wool of pure white alpacas lends itself well to dyeing, but it is very rare. Such wool is in great demand and is sold at high prices, so Peruvians are interested in breeding albino alpacas.
Alpaca considered a miniature type of llama.
When communicating with each other, alpacas widely use body language unfamiliar to us (stance, position of ears, neck).

Hatchling: Has a soft, creamy coat that darkens with age. A newborn weighs about 1 kg. Its mass in 9 months, while it feeds on milk, reaches 30 kg.
Muzzle: Forked upper lip and incisors of the lower jaw, constantly growing, allowing Alpatians to eat different types of plants.
Coat: very fine. There is practically no difference between the length of the undercoat and the guard hair. The wool grows constantly. The color varies from white to brownish-black, sometimes there is a pattern of white and brown spots on the body.
LIVING PLACE. The semi-wild alpaca is bred in the territory from the south of Peru to the north of Chile and Argentina. Due to the growing demand for alpaca wool, its breeding has become popular in other countries in South America.
Preservation . The number of animals today is estimated at 3 million and is constantly increasing, which is associated with the growing demand for alpaca wool.


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Alpaca, or llama, is an animal of the camel family. The qualities that appear to us when we define "camel hair" are to a large extent applicable to alpaca wool.

In the woolen clothing market, alpaca yarn is considered one of the most valuable and often used for sewing warm clothes, yarns often resembling sheep in their properties, but of higher quality.

Alpaca wool clothing is not only warm clothing, it is, above all, a mark of quality, but also an emphasis on refined taste and style. Fashion designers, adding the wool of this amazing animal to their works, make woolen clothes more attractive, pleasant to the touch, especially warm and stable when worn for a long time, which combines lightness and practicality, charm and amazing durability.

Alpaca wool is highly prized. And therefore, and also due to its characteristics (the wool is very hard), it is rarely used in its pure form. The benefits of alpaca wool are most evident in blended yarns. Blends with ordinary or merino wool, with artificial fibers (for example, with acrylic) are widespread. The main advantage of products made of alpaca wool is that they practically do not form pellets - long fibers prevent dumping.

It is prized primarily for its wool (24 natural shades), which has all the properties of a sheep, but is much lighter in weight. 5 kg of wool is sheared from one individual, they are sheared once a year. Alpaca fibers are straighter than sheep's wool, do not squeak, and are extremely rich and silky with a subtle sheen. These qualities are not found in any other type of fur.

Alpaca wool is three times stronger and seven times warmer than sheep wool. Living high in the mountains, where the temperature difference between day and night reaches 30 degrees, alpacas have warmer fur than other species of animals.

Ancient legends, amazing legends, funny myths and untold riches, in addition, the horizon of the high-mountainous plains, colorful and at the same time frightening sheer cliffs, as well as impenetrable thickets - all this is Peru, one of the favorite habitats of the Alpaca.

The color range of alpaca wool is quite wide; about 20 shades can be distinguished - from pure white, traditional beige or silver - to brown and even black. A feature of alpaca wool is that naphthalene cannot be used when storing it, and therefore only natural remedies are used as an antimole for it - lavender, tobacco and cedar.

Initially, alpacas were mistakenly attributed to the genus of llamas, but in 2001 the taxonomy of the species was changed from Lama pacos to Vicugna pacos, having found out that the ancestors of alpacas were vicuñas, and not guanacos, the progenitors of all domestic llamas. The difficulty in accurately determining the genus was that all four representatives of the camel family found in South America can produce offspring in the case of interspecific crossing, so that only DNA research could give an accurate answer to the origin of alpacas.

Llamas and alpacas, when crossed, give birth to offspring - uarisos - that are not capable of reproduction, but have a very soft character and therefore are ideally suited for the role of pets.

There are two types of Alpaca in nature: Suri and Huacaya. Animals differ only in the appearance of the wool.

Alpaca wool is most often of a natural color and the palette here can be varied. The animal itself is "painted" in the desired tone. It can be black, and all shades of brown, gray and even silver, but white yarn is especially appreciated. To grow albinos as a Peruvian, you have to sweat a lot, and sometimes you have to manually sort through the fibers, removing a different color of the coat.

Locals are very fond of the whole range of alpaca wool, and Europeans use it in almost all fashionable innovations.

It is noticed that the younger the alpaca, the thinner and softer the wool, so for warm woolen clothes it is better to use the fibers of young animals, and denser yarn is also suitable for carpets.

Alpaca wool is a natural fiber cut from alpaca. It can be light or heavy, depending on how it is twisted. It is soft, durable, luxurious and silky natural fiber. Unlike similar sheep's wool, this fiber is warmer, non-prickly, and has no lanolin, making it hypoallergenic. Alpaca is naturally water-repellent. Huacaya alpaca wool, which grows in a soft, spongy layer, has natural curls, making it a natural elastic yarn material ideal for knitting. Suri alpaca wool has much less frizz and is thus best suited for woven fabrics but also surprisingly luxurious. Designer Giorgio Armani has used suri alpaca wool in fashionable suits for men and women.

Various products are made from alpaca wool, from very simple and inexpensive clothing made in aboriginal communities to sophisticated, industrial and expensive items such as costumes. In the United States, groups of small alpaca breeders have come together to form “Fiber Cooperatives” to make alpaca fiber products cheaper to manufacture.

In its physical structure, alpaca fiber is somewhat akin to hair, very smooth. Alpaca wool is similar to the fiber of merino wool, but alpaca yarns are generally stronger than wool yarns. A hole in the heel that appears on a woolen sock or on the elbows of a wool sweater will not appear in similar alpaca clothing. When the fibers are twisted together, the strength increases several times. More careful twisting is necessary, especially for suri alpaca wool, as its fibers are silky, but this can reduce the softness of the yarn.

Alpaca has a very fine and light coat. It does not retain water, is warm even when wet, and can effectively resist solar radiation. These characteristics guarantee the animal a consistent and weather-resistant coat to cope with sudden changes in temperature. This fiber provides the same protection for humans.

Alpaca fiber also contains microscopic airbags that enable the production of lightweight textiles as well as various types of clothing. The cells in the fiber's central core can shrink or disappear, forming air pockets that aid in isolation. Wool varies from alpaca to alpaca, and some may have more myelinated (fluffy) fibers than wool and even mohair. This can be an undesirable quality. Myelinated fibers can take up less dye in finished garments and are weaker.

Good quality alpaca fiber should be about 18 to 25 micrometers in diameter. Alpaca wool with a smaller diameter is preferred and therefore more expensive. With age, alpacas grow in fiber width, the growth in fiber width ranges from 1 micron to 5 microns per year. The reason for this is the animal's overeating, and if you absorb too many nutrients, the animal does not get fat, and the fiber becomes thicker. Any alpaca wool in excess of 34 micrometers is classified as llama wool.

As with all woolly valuable animals, fiber quality varies from animal to animal, and some alpacas are far from ideal. Fiber quality and endurance are the two most important factors in determining the value of an alpaca.

Alpacas come in a variety of shades from bluish black, black-brown, black, brown, silver-gray to white, pink and gray. However, white predominates, the reason for this is selection: white fibers can be dyed in a wider range of colors. In South America, whites are preferred as they generally have better coats than dark colored animals. This is because dark colors have not been popular with breeders. Breeders today are hard at work breeding dark fiber animals and have made significant progress in the past 5-7 years.

The processes for preparing, combing, spinning, and finishing alpaca wool are very similar to the process used to process sheep wool.

Alpacas have been bred in South America for thousands of years. Vicuñas (as they are called there) were first domesticated and bred by the ancient Andean tribes in Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Alpacas have also been exported to other countries in recent years. In countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand, breeders cut their animals annually, weigh the wool and test it for fineness. Thanks to the knowledge gained, they are able to breed animals with heavier and thinner fibers. The weight of the cut from each alpaca changes, the maximum can be cut from a male individual up to 7 kg of wool, of which 3 kg is fiber of excellent quality.

Interest in alpaca fiber clothing has increased in recent years, and perhaps in part because alpaca farming has a relatively low environmental impact. Sports enthusiasts recognize that alpaca products are lighter and warmer, more comfortable in cold weather, so sportswear and outerwear manufacturers are starting to buy more alpaca products. The use of a blend of alpaca and merino wool is common in the fiber industry in order to improve the processing and quality of the final product.

In December 2006, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Natural Fibers, in order to reinforce the value of alpaca and other natural fibers.

Alpaca is a lightweight and very warm fabric that combines the high qualities of camel and llama wool. Alpaca or fibers are used in the production process. The use of modern technologies makes it possible to obtain a durable and dense fabric.

Material advantages

1. Animal hair has many natural shades, so it is never dyed. This feature allows even people with allergies to wear clothes made of this material. The color palette of this material is very wide - from snow-white to black.

2. The yarn does not fall off, so no pellets form on things. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarity of wool that it does not tolerate naphthalene, therefore, in the fight against moths, it is recommended to use natural substances - lavender, tobacco, cedar.

3. If we compare the yarn from alpaca with fibers obtained from sheep, then it is much stronger and warmer. Moreover, it is endowed with such positive properties as lightness and durability. By its structure, it is smooth, shiny, touching it causes a pleasant feeling of comfort. Products do not stretch or wrinkle, they are maximally resistant to various contaminants.

4. Surprisingly, but alpaca warms from the cold, but at the same time it is not hot in such products even in summer. Items made from this yarn are pleasant to wear in all weather conditions.

Perhaps the only one disadvantage material is its high cost. Today, alpaca is actively used for crocheting and knitting, spinning, and fabric production.

Alpaca fabric: a description of the material with a photo, the composition of the material - we will tell you about everything in our article. Many people think that sheep or camel wool is considered the warmest, but in fact this is not entirely true. Alpaca fur, which are bred in South America, has the greatest heat-conducting properties.

Alpaca fabric description

Alpaca - fabric, photo, the composition and properties of which are described below, is obtained from thin and light animal hair, which has unique heat-conducting properties.

Woolen fibers - fleece - have a sinuous structure, and their thickness is comparable to cashmere down and is only 25 microns.

Depending on the breed of animals (suri and huakaya), the fur of which has a different structure, the following types of fabrics are distinguished:

  • royal (fiber diameter 19 microns);
  • baby (fiber diameter 22.5 microns);
  • very soft (25.5 microns);
  • adult (32 microns).

Be sure to read - characteristics and properties.

Production

To obtain valuable raw materials, animals are sheared once a year. After that, it is sorted by hair length. Then I make yarn from the best raw materials, and after that they knit ready-made fabrics. The most valuable is the baby suri alpaca fabric, which is produced from the fur of young suri animals. It is soft, thin and smooth as it does not have the characteristic curls. The entire yarn-making process is done by hand: it starts with sorting the fibers and ends with spinning.

On the subject: you will find out in another article.

Alpaca fabric characteristics

Alpaca wool has the following properties:

    • softness and lightness;
    • thermoregulation (manifested at high and low temperatures);
    • light, silky sheen;
    • strength and durability;
    • hypoallergenic;
    • waterproofness;
    • dirt-repellent property.

Have a look in another article.

Application

Clothes and products made from alpaca wool are very warm, therefore they are widely used in the manufacture of winter and demi-season outerwear. A coat, a plaid, a poncho from alpaca wool is sewn from raw wool of adults. In addition, the unique yarn is used to make warm baby clothes, which are absolutely hypoallergenic. Read about all materials for coats, shirts and skirts in the "" section.

Advantages and disadvantages

Alpaca wool fabric has the following advantages:

  • preservation of all the properties of sheep wool with less weight;
  • very warm fabric - woolen raw materials of young alpacas are 7 times warmer than sheep's;
  • animal fur does not contain fat, which means that products made from it are less prone to contamination;
  • absence of any allergic reactions in adults and children;
  • a variety of natural colors (22 natural shades).

The material produced has only one drawback - the high price. For this, cheaper raw materials (acrylic, viscose, polyamide) are mixed with wool fibers. This allows you to preserve the unique qualities of the fabric and reduce the cost of products made from it.

Read about and you will learn all about its application.

Animals that look like small camels were domesticated 6 thousand years ago by the Indians of Peru. Since that time, their mass breeding began in order to obtain valuable raw materials for yarn.


Read about the features in our special section.

The video will tell you about the yarn from the wool of this wonderful animal: