From the Andes to Aotearoa — the story behind our alpaca

Whina Cooper
May 25
4 min read

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Alpaca is often spoken about as a luxury fibre, but rarely explained properly. We wanted to share simply and honestly what baby alpaca really is, where ours comes from, why it feels so special, and how to care for it well so it lasts for years to come. THE FIBRE - WHAT MAKES ALPACA SO DIFFERENT TO OTHER WOOL PRODUCTS?

Alpaca wool sits among the softest natural fibres in the world. The fibre is finer than most wool, naturally lanolin-free, and hollow at the core which gives it a warmth-to-weight ratio that synthetic fibres have not managed to replicate. It insulates well in cool weather and breathes in warmer conditions, which is why a well-made alpaca piece moves across seasons in a way a merino-cotton blend often does not.

The absence of lanolin is significant. Lanolin is the natural oil in sheep's wool that causes irritation for many people, the scratchiness, the skin reactions. Because alpaca contains none of it, it is naturally hypoallergenic and generally well-tolerated by people who have written off wool entirely.

One thing worth being honest about: alpaca does pill. Like all natural fibres, friction over time. This is not a defect. It is what real fibre does. A fabric shaver will remove them cleanly, and the product is unchanged. The way you care for it will slow the process of wear considerably.

BABY ALPACA - WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY MEAN?

Baby alpaca is frequently misunderstood, and the name does not help.

It does not come from young animals. Baby alpaca refers to one of two things: the first shear of a young alpaca's fleece (before the fibre coarsens with age), or the finest grade of fibre selected from within an adult animal's fleece. That grade is measured in microns the finer the fibre, the lower the micron count, and the softer the result against skin.

Standard alpaca fibre runs between 26 and 30 microns. Baby alpaca sits between 18 and 22 microns. For reference, human hair is around 70 microns. The difference you feel when you hold a baby alpaca piece against your wrist is that difference made physical.

Baby alpaca has a finer sheen, a lighter drape, and a noticeably softer hand feel. It is more expensive to produce not because of marketing, but because less of it exists per animal and because the grading process is labour-intensive. When a label says baby alpaca, it should mean something. With us, it does.

WHERE DOES OURS COMES FROM?

We source our alpaca from artisan communities in the Cusco region of Peru. Alpaca farming in Peru is a way of life that has continued for thousands of years, shaped by the altitude, the landscape, and knowledge passed from one generation to the next.

A few things we hold firm on:

One shear per year. Alpacas are shorn once annually, during the warmer months, using traditional methods. This is the natural rhythm of the animal. We do not work with suppliers who shear more frequently for higher yield.

Natural grazing. The herds we source from graze on open Andean pasture no feedlots, no intensive farming. The altitude and the grass are part of what shapes the quality of the fibre.

Skilled craftspeople, not factory workers. The spinners and weavers we work with hold knowledge that is inherited. It shows in the work. They are paid fairly for it not as a gesture, but as a baseline.

The connection between Artisan craft traditions and what we do at Tuku Iho is something we think about. Two communities - one in the Cusco, one in Aotearoa, who understand what it means to work with inherited knowledge, to make things that carry meaning, and to pass them on. That shared understanding is part of why the partnership works.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ALPACA

Alpaca is more resilient than it looks, but it responds to care.

Washing Hand wash only, in cool water. Use a small amount of wool-specific detergent or baby shampoo will also work. Submerge the garment and move it gently through the water. Do not rub, twist, or wring this compresses the fibres and accelerates pilling and distortion. To remove water, press the garment gently between two towels. Then lay flat to dry on a clean surface, away from direct sunlight and away from any heat source. Never hang an alpaca piece while wet, the weight of the water will stretch it.

Between wears You do not need to wash alpaca after every wear. The fibre is naturally odour-resistant, and frequent washing shortens its life. Airing it, hanging it in a well-ventilated space for an hour or two is enough most of the time. Spot clean where needed with a damp cloth and a small amount of wool wash.

Storage Fold alpaca products do not hang it. For seasonal storage, a breathable cotton bag is better than a sealed plastic one. Alpaca pieces appreciate airflow. Avoid mothballs; they leave a smell that is very difficult to remove from natural fibre.

Pilling When pilling appears, and it will, in time. Use a fabric shaver to remove it cleanly without damaging the garment. Run it lightly across the surface in one direction. The piece will return to its former look and feel.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Tuku Iho means passed down. It is the intention behind everything we make, that what you bring home today is still worth something in twenty years, that it can move from one your hands to someone else's, that the person who made it was respected in the making of it.

Sourcing alpaca the way we source it costs more. It takes time to develop trusting relationships with artisan families and many in person visits to Peru.

If you have questions about any of our alpaca pieces, get in touch with us here.