Baby Alpaca
WHAT WE LOVE
It’s the more sustainable alternative to cashmere and just as soft (if not softer). Our Baby Alpaca has a low carbon footprint because the yarn goes from farm to garment all in Peru. Not only does that help support indigenous communities, but it also minimizes supply chain pollution from transportation.
WHAT WE DON'T LOVE
We add a small amount of synthetic fibers to our sweater fabric. They are added to make the yarns more affordable, and in turn keep the final cost of the garment reasonable.
Baby Alpaca wool is the fiber we use to create our sweaters. It’s sustainable, natural, and just as soft as cashmere-if not softer.
The name Baby Alpaca refers to the fineness of the fiber, not the age of the animal. It comes from the underside of the neck of an alpaca, where the wool is the softest. Baby Alpaca has a hollow core which traps air inside. So, it’s breathable and provides great insulation. It warms up quickly and stays warm longer (which is exactly what you want in a sweater). Baby Alpaca fibers are soft, durable, and hypoallergenic (less itchy).
Why is Alpaca better than cashmere? Cashmere goats destroy the terrain through overgrazing, while alpacas do not. The overgrazing then causes damage to the land (it's called desertification), making it so that nothing can grow. Overgrazed land releases carbon into the environment causing less rain to fall in the region, thus perpetuating the desertification process. Alpacas, on the other hand, replenish the land when they graze. They don’t overgraze and their droppings act as a fertilizer to keep their land healthy and happy. They also produce more fluff. A single alpaca can yield enough wool to make about four sweaters in one year, while it takes five goats an entire year to produce enough cashmere for one sweater. To put it simply, fewer alpacas do less environmental damage and produce a better result.
The indigenous people of the Andes have been caring for alpacas for thousands of years and by choosing Peruvian Baby Alpaca for our sweaters we are further preserving a tradition that provides income to many artisans and helps the local economy of indigenous people. Our sources provide opportunity and ensure that quality and ethical standards are always met. Alpacas are never harmed during the shearing process (which happens once a year), and in fact alpacas depend on their human caretakers to shear them every year to ensure that they do not overheat during the summer months.
Because our production partners are local, our Baby Alpaca pieces have a low carbon footprint because the yarn goes from farm to garment all in Peru. This minimizes supply chain pollution from transportation.
LANDFILL LIFETIME: Baby Alpaca will take between 1- 5 years to biodegrade depending on the color and treatment of the yarn. However, the synthetic portion of the garment will remain anywhere from 20-200 years.
CARE: We recommend using an environmentally friendly dry cleaner to handle your Baby Alpaca sweaters, as hand-washing or submerging them in water will cause shrinkage. As with any sweater Alpaca can pill. It isn't uncommon to notice this the most in areas where there is friction created by fabric rubbing against fabric. Using a sweater stone (we love this one) can easily refresh your Baby Alpaca clothing.