Alpaca, Sustainable Natural Fleece

When it comes to the overall quality of wool fibers, it's already known that alpaca is the best fabric to use. The wool is incredibly hypoallergenic and will not irritate the skin. It's been well established that, no matter if you are a baby or an adult, alpaca wool is the best material you can wear. 

However, what about its sustainability? Surely quality wool fibers such as these would be limited in their overall numbers, right? 

Well, great news! Not only is alpaca the most luxurious form of wool fiber, but it is also the most sustainable! Keep reading as we break down and go over why you can get as many alpaca scarves, alpaca hats, alpaca gloves, and other alpaca clothes as you want without fear of running out or endangering the environment! 

Alpacas are Naturally Super Green

When it comes down to it, before we even get into the sustainability practices, it should be known that alpacas, all on their own, are incredibly sustainable animals.



In fact, many have considered them to be one of the greenest animals in the world. From their grazing and drinking habits, to their fleece production, to their very hooves, the alpaca produces some of the least amounts of environmental impact on their surroundings compared to nearly any other animal out there. 

Grazing

When it comes to eating, the alpaca has some of the most sustainable methods compared to any other creature out there. Rather than decimate the local vegetation by tearing out the grass while grazing (an unfortunate trait that most animals perform) the alpaca pulls at the top layer of grass instead. This process ensures that the local environment doesn't ever suffer from overgrazing. 


Similarly, alpacas also use communal spaces as a place to produce their waste. Rather than simply leave droppings wherever they are at that moment, the alpaca, especially in larger groups, will find a single area to relieve themselves. This restricts the amount of bacteria in the environment. What's more, their waste is actually known for being an exceptionally great form of fertilizer! 

Wool & Body

As stated earlier, even the hooves of the alpaca help the environment. Rather than hard and rough, as you would find with most other hooved animals, the alpaca hooves are softly padded. This soft padding reduces their wearing of the environmental terrain around them, keeping things largely unaffected even from their general steps. 


Alpacas also produce more wool and fleece when compared to sheep or cashmere goats. Their bodies are uniquely suited to the harsh conditions of the Peruvian Andes. As such, they grow large amounts of wool at an exponentially faster rate when compared to sheep or goats. This means that a single alpaca can be sheared several times more often per year than most other wooled animals. 

Alpacas Support Peruvian Locals

Alpacas are naturally located in the Peruvian Andes, a largely dry and cold mountainous region that is almost barren. Throughout Peruvian history, alpaca farming was their sole method of making an income. Because of this, using alpaca wool was a way of life for the Peruvian people. Families and communities at large would come together in order to breed and raise the animals as well as shear and spin their fleece into yarn, which would ultimately be used in making various types of alpaca clothes. 


This way of life continues on even today for many of the Peruvian people. In spite of the aforementioned environment as well as largely stunted economic opportunities available to them, at least 1.5 million Peruvians continue with these traditions, relying almost entirely on the sale of alpaca wool for their livelihoods. 

When you buy an alpaca scarf or get a pair of alpaca gloves, you are directly supporting the Peruvian economy. More So than that, you are specifically helping the local alpaca farmers and weavers while allowing them to continue their century-old traditions and lifestyles. 

In Summary

Now that you know that Alpaca wools are both the most luxurious, affordable, and eco-friendly fibers available, what are you waiting for? Not only are you getting high-quality, highly sustainable clothing that will keep you very warm this winter, but you are also ensuring that local Peruvian alpaca farmers are gainfully employed, especially during these trying times.