Casa Allpa Home Textiles 2018 COLLECTION
Alpaca, Gold of the Andes
ALPACA
Since very ancient times, alpaca has been part of Andean cultures, as we can tell from arqueological findings in ceramics,textiles, metal and Stone. During the Inca empire, alpaca and vicugna were used only by the royalty, because it was valued as the finest clothing material. The breeding of camelids, where alpaca, llama, guanaco and vicugna belong, was part of the daily life for Andean people, specially in the higher altitudes, as these animals were able to live over 4000 meters above sea level, dealing with temperatures that can go from 30 oC to 20 oC below zero.
There has been always a natural harmony between man and alpaca, being this small camelid ( 1.30 m high), always present in traditional rituals and offerings to Mother Earth (Pachamama). Indian peasants live with alpacas and llamas, sheperds take them everyday to where they gently graze with no harm for the soil, and every year they shear their hair for the industry. Today Peru has 80 % of the world alpacas population which is around 4 million animals,, and it has been only in the last decades that the world started appretiating the extraordinary value of this material, which belong s to the fine hairs group, together with cashmir, angora, yak, camel, mohair and vicugn.
Photo: Inca Tops
GOLD OF THE ANDES
What makes alpaca so special? • Its fineness, with micronnage going from 17 mm to 40mm • It is hypoallergenic, and contains no oil or lanolin
• It has thermal regulating properties, due to microscopic air pockets • Its durability and softness to the touch
Techniques used in our textiles • Hand woven in the Andes • Knitting , made mostly in domestic machines • Industrial looms • Hand printing • Embellishment with embroidery, fringing, tassels
GOLD OF THE ANDES
• It is lightweight, breathable, soft, non flammable
GOLD OF THE ANDES
Which qualities can we find in alpaca? Depending on several factors, such as age, sheared part of the body and variety, it is posible to find these qualities in the yarn:
ALPACA
• IMPERIAL : 17 microns • ROYAL ALPACA : 19-20 microns • BABY ALPACA : 21-22.5 microns • SUPERFINE : 25.5-26.5 microns • BABY SURI : 22.5 microns • SURI : 27.5 microns • HUARIZO : 29 microns • COARSE ALPACA : +30 microns
This variety allows the industry to produce a large list of products, from home textiles to garments and accesories.
Alpaca breeding has always been an important ressource for lower income indian families, as they benefit not only from the fleece, but also from the hide, fur, meat and even manure to be used in agriculture. Supply chain includes important mills who transform this fleece into rich yarns that go to manufacture final products, either hand or industrially made. Mills have developed a new way of shearing alpacas., much less harmful for the animals, called the Inca shearing, very successful among the breeders. The bigger demand alpaca yarn is having today in the global market gives more opportunities for indian communities to Benefit from it. We feel this is just the beginning of a major improvement of all parts of the chain, from the andean breeders , the artisans who participate in the weaving and knitting of throws,
blankets, rugs, knitwear and all types of accesories, the mills who develope better yarns each year. This can be a huge industry capable of crÊating thousands of Jobs in our country and improving life standards among poor people. We are just starting and there is still a long way to walk together with our clients and those who have learnt to love the alpaca as we do. We can all be part of the alpaca adventure: let´s start by learning about it and its great virtues, then learning about our people who breeds the animal, the weavers and knitters who do incredibly beautiful products, the mills who we partner with and us, Allpa, a certified fair trade company who is permanently looking to bring you the best of this magnificent material. All this in one country, Peru.
GOLD OF THE ANDES
Social Impact
ALPACA
ALPACA