About Alpacas

Alpacas are gentle animals that live high in the Andes mountains of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. People there have raised them for thousands of years for their soft, warm fiber.

Freshly shorn alpaca fleece in its natural colors, before it is cleaned, spun into yarn and knit or woven by hand.

Why alpaca fiber is special

• Warm but light. Alpaca fiber traps heat well, so a light sweater or pair of gloves keeps you warm on very cold days.
• Soft, not itchy. The fibers are smooth, so most people find alpaca much softer on the skin than regular sheep's wool.
• Breathable. It keeps you warm without making you sweaty.
• Strong and long-lasting. With gentle care, alpaca pieces last for many years.
• A natural, renewable fiber. Alpacas are shorn about once a year, and the fleece grows back.

Huacaya and Suri

There are two kinds of alpaca. Huacaya alpacas, the most common, have fluffy, teddy-bear-like fleece. That is the fur used in many of our stuffed animals. Suri alpacas have long, silky locks.

How to care for alpaca

Hand wash in cold water with a mild or baby shampoo, never wring, press out water between towels and dry flat away from heat. For stuffed animals, spot clean with a damp cloth. See our Care & Packing page for more.