Alpaca
Fiber & Care
[Hand
washing] [Machine
washing]
[Dry
Cleaning] [Why
buy Alpaca]
[The
Alpaca]
Care
instructions
Before
you begin, read the care label attached to the garment and
any hang tags or care instructions included in garment packaging.
When
hand washing is advised,
we recommend using the following method:
- Gently
hand wash in cool water (up to 85*F / 196*C) with shampoo
or a mild soap. Never use chlorine bleach.
- Gently
press to remove excess water. Do not wring or twist: handle
gently to avoid wrinkles and distortion.
- Dry
flat (lay out horizontally for drying).
- Block
to dry (reshape to original dimensions while drying).
- Smooth
by hand while wet to remove wrinkles and straighten the seams
and facings.
- Touch
up with a cool iron (lowest temperature setting) as needed.
(top)
When
machine washing is advised,
we recommend the following method:
-
Machine wash in cool water (up to 85*F
/ 196*C) with shampoo or a mild soap on delicate cycle.
Never use chlorine bleach.
- Hang
to dry or dry flat (lay out horizontally for drying).
- Touch
up with a cool iron (lowest temperature setting) as needed.
(top)
When dry cleaning
is advised, we recommend the following:
-
Seek out a reputable cleaner that is
a member of the International Fabricare Institute.
-
Bring
with you any labels or hang tags that contain fiber information
or care instructions.
-
Outfits
with several pieces should be cleaned at the same time to
avoid any color discrepancies resulting from cleaning.
-
Inform
the cleaner of any spots or stains, they will want to treat
some stains before the dry cleaning process.
-
We
recommend that you request the cleaner use fresh or filtered
solvent, and a dry cleaning process that does not involve
tumbling of the garment and uses low heat (140*F / 306*C)
drying.
-
Knits
that have shrunk from the dry cleaning process can be “blocked”
(reshaped to original dimensions) by the cleaner. Request
this service, if needed.
-
Your
cleaner may also provide mothproofing. Request this service,
if needed.
-
Some
wool may show pilling (the appearance of tiny balls on the
fabric surface). Dry cleaning may increase their number
but your cleaner should remove them as part of the finishing
process.
(top)
Why
buy Alpaca? Alpaca
is a natural fiber of superior fineness and strength. It has
a luxurious, soft handle, and is more durable and warmer than
cashmere, wool and many other natural fibers. Alpaca is light
weight, naturally lustrous, and more comfortable to wear against
the skin than sheep's wool. Alpaca can have virtually no prickle
effect with diminishing micron fineness and lack of guard hair.
Alpaca is hypoallergenic due to the lack of lanolin, is easy
to clean and retains warmth even when wet, making it perfect
for outdoor activities.
(top)
The
Alpaca
The
charismatic alpaca is a wonderfully gentle, intelligent, and
curious animal. The alpaca is a member of the Camelid family
which also includes the llama and the wild vicuna and guanaco.
Native to the high Andes plateaus of Peru, Chile, and Bolivia,
they have been imported to the U.S. since 1984. Ancient petroglyphs
in Peru dated at over 4,000 years old show herds of alpacas
being tended by their Peruvian herders.
Unlike
the llama, which is used primarily as a pack animal, the alpaca
is raised for its luxurious fine fiber. Alpaca fiber is soft
yet durable and comes in a variety of colors; the worldwide
market recognizes 22 natural colors of alpaca, from pure white
through fawn, to a range of browns, and a true jet black.
The
alpaca itself is a small and endearing animal, weighing between
120 and 175 pounds. Their diet consists largely of pasture,
and/or hay, and fresh water. Alpaca ownership is full of rewards
and advantages.
There
are two different breeds of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. The more
common Huacaya have full, fluffy, crimped fleeces and are known
for their cute "Teddy Bear look". The unique rare
Suri alpaca has long silky lustrous locks which hang downward
creating a draped elegant appearance. Suri fiber is prized and
commands higher prices in the world markets because of it's
luster and fine hand. Both Suri and Huacaya fiber are used throughout
the world for the very warmest and finest quality garments.
Alpaca fiber does not contain lanolin or any other oily body
secretion. It can be worn by persons allergic to wool. Alpacas,
when placed in a show ring, do not require grooming. Their fiber
is simply picked clean. There are approximately 12,000 registered
alpacas in the entire United States, of which, the rare suri
number only 2,000.
(top)
|
