ALPACA FIBER
The Incas placed a higher value on alpaca fiber than gold or silver. The knowledge and craftsmanship of spinning and knitting has been passed down from generation to generation, resulting in the rich, diverse textile heritage of Peru.
New patterns are combined with traditional methods, giving an innovative touch without losing the ethical heritage.The alpaca live mostly without any boundaries in the highlands of the Peruvian Andes and are not harmed during the shearing process.
Their soft padded feet are gentle on the grass terrain and they graze without destroying the root system of the area. Alpaca is the only animal that produces up to 28 natural colors and can be blended into an infinite array of natural shades from inky black to warm chestnuts and snowy white. It is easily dyed in any color and always retains its natural luster.
Alpaca is supple and smooth to the touch and because of the featherweight, it’s ultra-light. Alpaca is softer than cashmere and warmer and stronger than lamb’s wool.
It contains microscopic air pockets which create lightweight clothing with excellent insulating properties. It is a completely natural fiber and there is no use of harsh chemicals in production.
ALPACA FUR
What makes the Alpaca hide so unique compared to the other furs?
- TWO different kind of furs: At 4,000 meters in altitude in the Andean Region, live two different types of Alpacas- the Suris, and the Huacayas . The Huacayas have a fluffier look while the Suris have long, lustrous locks.
- Guilt-free fur: This is the perfect fur for all animal lovers since no animal is killed to provide the fur.
- Extremely soft fur: This is due to the quality of its fiber. The softness of the fiber is determined by its cuticle and diameter:
a-Cuticle: Alpaca fiber is as soft as Cashmere, but has a smoother cuticle that can make the fiber feel even smoother and softer then Cashmere.
b-Diameter: The diameter, measured in microns (1/25,000 of an inch) is the major determinant. The scale height of alpaca fiber is about .04 microns compared to .08 microns for wool. The scale frequency of mohair is 6 - 8 per 100 micron length of fiber and of alpaca is greater than 9 per 100 micron length of fiber. In other words, the individual shaft of an alpaca fiber is measurably smoother than that of other natural fibers.
- Extremely light yet warm fur: A cross section of an alpaca fiber will reveal microscopic air pockets. These pockets of air add to the insulating qualities as well as the light weight of a garment made from alpaca.
- Totally non-allergenic fur: Alpaca contains no lanolin or any other substances that cause allergic reactions. This is why it can be used from bed covers to baby cribs! It is a chemical free and completely natural hide.
- Fur that maintains its luxurious feel year after year: Because of its cylindrical-shaped fiber, dust and dirt do not adhere to them. It is an extremely resilient fur!
- Fur that doesn’t shed: Alpaca do not shed since they are found in the cold Andean regions.
- Fur that is more flame resistant than synthetic fibers or plant: it can be used in multiple sectors that have stricter inflammability codes such as retail, hospitality and commercial.
- Water-resistant fur: water will roll onto it.
- Fur that is easy to care for: Brush it out with a fine tooth metal pet brush. Shake it outside and any dirt particle will fly away and vacuum your rug with a hose attachment. For spills or spot cleaning, a sponge with a mild soap and water solution will work best. Make certain that you don't get the leather wet by using so much liquid that it penetrates through the fur, down to the leather. Do not use any harsh chemical agents to clean the fur.
For a deeper clean, we recommend a professional furrier.
Alpaca fur is an extremely soft and luxurious fur!
What makes our alpaca hides more unique than the competition?
- Our hides are more thoroughly cleaned and therefore odorless: After having collected the hides of the naturally deceased animals, the farmers sell us the hide and we treat them through an extensive cleaning process that removes all grease and any possible bacteria (Brazilian machinery and German chrome-free cleaning agents). This allows the properties of the alpaca to remain intact while removing the strong odor given by alpaca hides.
- Our hides are more malleable: We have specialized machines from Brazil to soften the malleability of the skin so there isn’t that toughness commonly associated with Alpaca hide.
- Our colors are untransferable: Because the oil has been removed from the hide in the cleaning process, it makes it possible for the ecological dyes (French dyes) to properly attach themselves to the fibers thus making it untransferable to other materials it comes in contact with.
- Our colors are following the latest market trends: We have developed a color palette that will appeal to a wide variety of clients, just as much in the fashion industry as in the textile and furniture industry.
CASHMERE
Nepal/Tibetan Himalayan cashmere is renowned as some of the softest cashmere in the world. Cashmere is extremely light and luxuriously soft yet keeps you extremely warm. Cashmere comes from the softest undercoat of a goat
RAFFIA
The raffia fiber is obtained from the raffia (raphia) palm tree, which grows in tropical regions and in wet soil in Madagascar, Africa and the Philippines.
The raffia palm (Raphia farinifera) is made of long leaves that can attain 60ft (18m), which makes it the palm tree with the largest branches.Each palm branch is made of nearly 100 leaflets, which are cut and torn off in parallel lines yielding long continuous fiber of a pale green color.
The dried raffia fibers then turn beige in color to yield the natural colored raffia we all know
TURKISH COTTON
Turkish cotton is premium cotton that has extra long fibers. Using longer fiber cotton in spinning yarn means fewer joins. Fewer joins results in stronger and smoother cotton threads. Turkish cotton is long fiber cotton and is grown in the small but productive Aegean Region. Turkish cotton becomes even softer, fluffier with successive washings.
Similar to Egyptian cotton with extra-long fibers, this premium cotton is grown exclusively in the Turkish region. Turkish cotton are soft, luxurious and absorbent, but typically dry faster than Egyptian cotton because of their flat weave.
INDIGO DYED COTTON
The cotton is planted by hand and watered by the monsoon rains. It takes eight months for the plant to produce the cotton flower, then it is picked by hand, ginned by hand (a difficult and tedious activity), and then spun into yarn by hand. Traditional wood and bamboo looms are used by weavers to transform the cotton fiber into cotton cloth.
Indigo dying is a skill that is passed on through generations and is an ancient art steeped in myths. Indigo dye is made from the leaves and shoots of the “kharm” plant, which grows in many areas in Laos. Getting the raw materials for indigo may be easy, but making it is an art. It involves fermentation of the “kharm” and keeping the mixture in air-tight jars at the required temperature.