Picking the right type of wool and woolen garment, such as alpaca scarves, can be a challenging thing. Many people love wool, but they just do not know which one is the best. Determining the best type of wool is a hard thing, and it comes down to the different properties and benefits it has. For some people, the warmth is what makes it a deal-breaker. For the others, it is the softness. However, each type of wool is different.
Lately, the alpaca wool is the one that is making waves and gaining bigger and bigger popularity. And there is a good reason for that. With the constantly rising levels of pollution that a big part comes from the fashion industry, alpaca wool has come as the most sustainable, eco-friendly, and organic option. That is why the price of alpaca wool is also a bit high compared to the other types.
Alpaca wool is more expensive compared to cotton, llama, and polyester. It is similar in price to hemp, silk, merino, Corriedale, and Lleyn. However, it is not as expensive as cashmere, bison down, yak, angora, and mohair. Vicuna and qiviut are the most expensive fibers.
Alpaca wool is one of the most demanded types of wool today. It is considered a luxury fabric because of the great and unique properties of wool. The fibers of the alpaca are so soft and pleasant to the skin, making the alpaca wool garments not itchy and suitable for those with even the most sensitive skin. It is also considered natural wool. It does not require harsh processing.
As animals, alpacas are shorn once a year. It is a safe and painless process, which allows them to rebalance their body temperature. The wool they produce has great benefits.
It is a wonderful option for wearing it throughout the entire year. It is water-repellent, it is fire-repellent, and it is stain and odor-free. These are some of the best and greatest features of the alpaca wool, making it even rarer and demanded.
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Vicuna fiber is recognized as the rarest and most refined of all-natural fibers. It is a golden-brown color, and it feels very soft to the touch. Another name that it is known for is the Gold of the Andes, which was a term reserved for royalty during the Inca time.
Vicuna is the cousin of the alpaca. It is a small and graceful animal. It lives in the Andean mountains at altitudes between 3200 and 4800 meters. The natural vicuna fiber is the rarest in the world. This is because of the strict conservation and the restrictions on the shearing process.
One strand of vicuna wool comes at around 12 microns. It is about 7 microns finer compared to the best cashmere. One vicuna animal produces about half a kilo of wool a year. The fibers are so fragile that they cannot be dyed or treated with any chemicals typically used in the textile industry.
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As animals, vicunas have the most delicate coat of any animal. Their wool is twice as fine as cashmere, which is also considered to be luxury wool. In the purest form, the vicuna wool is undyed, which allows it to maintain its rich golden color.
Vicuna animals can only be shorn every three years. After each shearing, they are tagged and released back into the wild. The fine fibers make the vicuna products feel very soft and light. Like the alpaca wool, the vicuna wool is also warm and insulating.
Although vicuna and alpaca wool have similar characteristics for fiber, they are pretty different. And the main point to that is the price. As mentioned above, vicuna is shorn once every three years, compared to alpaca which is shorn once a year. This greatly speaks and points out the increased demand and the supply on the market, which form the price.
So, the lack of the vicuna fiber imposes greater prices, making it more expensive wool than the alpaca. However, the alpaca wool benefits are very well known. We are dedicated to providing and supplying only the best alpaca wool products. Supplied directly from the Peruvian region, all those looking to stock on some alpaca wool throws, we have the best and the most unique offer.
At Silkeborg Uldspinderi we are here to help you. You will have at your disposal many high-quality products. If you want to buy any alpaca scarves, shawls, cushions, or throws, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our contact page. Check out our offer and find your most desired alpaca wool throw.
