Alpaca fiber

Suri fiber is more similar to natural silk and hangs off the body in locks that have a dreadlock appearance.

While huacaya fiber is similar to sheep's wool, it is warmer, not prickly, and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic.

Suris, prized for their longer and silkier fibers, are estimated to make up 19–20% of the North American alpaca population.

[6] Since its import into the United States, the number of Suri alpacas has grown substantially and become more color diverse.

[7] Suris are often said to be less cold hardy than Huacaya, but both breeds are successfully raised in more extreme climates.

They were domesticated from the vicuñas by the ancient tribes of the Andean highlands of Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Northwest of Argentina.

According to archaeological studies alpaca fiber was similar in quality to the wild vicuña prior to the Spanish Conquests in the 1500s.

In countries such as the US, Australia and New Zealand, breeders shear their animals annually, weigh the fleeces and test them for fineness.

These long straight hairs located between the undercoat ensure that the fine coat does not become matted.

[11] The Amerindians of Peru used this fiber in the manufacture of many styles of fabrics for thousands of years before its introduction into Europe as a commercial product.

The alpaca was a crucial component of ancient life in the Andes, as it provided not only warm clothing, but also meat.

Methods of killing the beasts varied based on the god receiving the sacrifice, the festival during which it took place, and even the color of the animal's fur.

One method involved slitting open the animal's left side and reaching inside the chest cavity to remove the heart.

Apparently, alpaca yarn was spun in England for the first time about the year 1808, but the fiber was condemned as an unworkable material.

With the introduction of cotton warps into Bradford trade about 1836, the true qualities of alpaca could be assessed as it was developed into fabric.

There is a cross between alpaca and llama—a true hybrid in every sense—producing a material placed upon the Liverpool market under the name "Huarizo".

Alpacas are now being bred in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Germany and numerous other places.

Outdoor sports enthusiasts claim that its lighter weight and better warmth provides them more comfort in colder weather.

The difference in the individual fiber scales compared to sheep wool also creates the glossy shine which is prized in alpaca.

[2] While breeders report fiber can sell for US$2 to $4 per ounce, the world wholesale price for processed, spun alpaca "tops" is only between about $10 to $24/kg (according to quality), i.e. about $0.28 to $0.68 per oz.

Alpacas come in 22 natural colors, with more than 300 shades from a true black through brown-blacks, browns, fawns, white, silver-greys, and rose-greys.

Breeders have been diligently working on breeding dark animals with exceptional fiber, and much progress has been made over the last few years.

Alpaca fiber is used for many purposes, including making clothing such as bedding, hats, mitts, socks, scarves, gloves, and jumpers.