Alpaca is the fleece of the Andean camelid of the same name. It contains no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic, and the fibre is hollow, so it is light and warm. The luxury grades are 'baby' and 'royal' alpaca — names that refer to fibre fineness from the first shearing, not the animal's age.
What makes alpaca luxury quality
- Grade: royal alpaca (under 19 µm) rivals cashmere for softness; baby alpaca (19–22.5 µm) is the mainstream luxury grade.
- Suri vs Huacaya: suri alpaca has a silky, lustrous, drapey fibre; huacaya is crimpier and loftier.
- Blends: alpaca is often blended with silk or merino to add elasticity, which pure alpaca lacks.
- Pilling: alpaca pills less than cashmere thanks to its long fibre.
- Provenance: Peruvian mills such as those in Arequipa dominate the fine-alpaca supply chain.
Care
Hand-wash cool, reshape and dry flat; alpaca stretches when wet, so support the garment's weight. See the full care guide.
Houses working in alpaca
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Frett
$$Slow-made natural-fibre knitwear produced in family-run, fair-wage factories across Europe
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Inis Meáin
$$$Luxury reinterpretations of Aran island knitwear, made on Inis Meáin since 1976
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Kuna
$$$Baby, royal and suri alpaca and vicuña from Peru's vertically integrated Grupo Inca
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Fair-trade hand-dyed yarns and hand-knit garments from rural Uruguayan artisan cooperatives
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Oleana
$$$Patterned Norwegian cardigans in merino, silk and alpaca, made in the brand's own factory near Bergen
Alpaca: frequently asked questions
Is alpaca better than cashmere?
Royal and baby alpaca are comparable to cashmere in softness, warmer by weight, more durable and less prone to pilling. Cashmere is generally softer and has more elasticity. Alpaca is the better choice for people sensitive to lanolin and for garments that need to last.
Which brands make the best alpaca knitwear?
Houses in this index specialising in alpaca include Frett, Inis Meáin, Kuna, Manos del Uruguay and Oleana. Judge any of them on fibre grade, gauge, construction and finishing rather than name alone.