Peruvian alpaca: What makes this fiber so highly valued worldwide?

Since 2012, August 1 has been celebrated as National Alpaca Day.

According to data from the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism (PROMPERU), Peru boasts over 6 million alpacas, representing 80 % of the global alpaca population. This makes Peru the top producer of alpaca fiber worldwide.

Furthermore, as per PROMPERU data, exports of this good are projected to nearly hit the USD 200 million mark in 2022, with Asia, Europe, and the United States emerging as the primary markets for this product.

2024: THE YEAR OF CAMELIDS

Alpaca fiber comes mainly from Puno, accounting for 39.6 % of the total production. Following closely behind are Cusco (14.7 %), Arequipa (12.7 %), Huancavelica (8.3 %), Apurimac (5.9 %), Ayacucho (2.8 %), and Pasco (1.8 %). This makes alpaca farming a crucial source of income for around 90 thousand families within these regions.

As per the national authority, Peru tops the charts as the world's biggest alpaca fiber producer, shipping out over 7,000 tons annually. Adding to the significance, the United Nations has declared 2024 as the Year of Camelids.

STROLLING GEM OF THE ANDES

One fascinating aspect of alpaca fiber is its ability to regulate temperature. It is remarkable how clothing made from this material keeps you warm when it is cold and feels light when it is hot outside. Pretty amazing, right?

This has an explanation: this fabric is super fine, with fibers reaching up to 19 microns in diameter and minimal variation. That means you can wear these clothes all year round, whether it is winter, summer, fall, or spring.

Alpaca fiber is known for its durability, making it reusable. As a result, 90 % of this product can be exported to over 20 countries, with China, Italy, and the United States being the primary destinations.

Its hygroscopic nature is crucial too, as it prevents the garment from soaking up moisture. Plus, its elasticity and durability are very good.

SOFT AS CLOUDS

When you talk about alpaca fiber, you are talking about pure softness. Its unique structure makes it incredibly gentle to the touch, often likened to luxurious fibers like Mohair (from Angora goats) and Cashmere (from Kashmir goats in India), which are renowned worldwide for their premium quality.

Alternatively, alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic since it lacks lanolin (a natural wax from the animal's glands) and comes in over 22 natural colors, ranging from black to various shades of gray, brown, and beige.

Photograph: César Vallejo

TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION OF ALPACA FIBER

There are two main types of alpaca fiber: Suri and Huacaya. Suri fiber is long, straight, and shiny, hanging down from the alpaca's back, while Huacaya fiber is shorter, curly, and fluffy, covering the whole body of the alpaca. Generally, Suri fiber is finer and softer than Huacaya but is also rarer and sometimes more economically valuable.

Alpaca fiber  classification depends on its thickness, measured in microns (one micron equals one-thousandth of a millimeter). Based on this, alpaca fiber falls into various categories, as per PROMPERU's 2023 data:

Ultrafine alpaca: less than 18 microns 

Superfine alpaca: 18.1 to 20 microns

Extrafine alpaca: 20.1 to 23 microns

Fine alpaca: 23.1 to 26.5 microns

Semi-fine alpaca: 26.6 to 29 microns

Semi-thick alpaca: 29.1 to 31.5 microns

Thick alpaca: more than 31.5 microns

Alpaca fiber is highly valued for its quality and exclusivity, no doubt about that. Thanks to this, it serves as a crucial source of income for numerous rural families. These families are deeply involved in the breeding and shearing of these prized camelids, considering them as the real treasures of the Peruvian Andes.

Photograph: Studio Sabático