Every single sweater, cardigan, hat and scarf from our workshops is still completely handcrafted. From hand looming to linking, sewing, and finishing, each piece is produced by the hands of our expert crafters using traditional Andean textile techniques. Hand embroidery and crocheting as well as leather applications are incorporated into our garments to create pieces that are not only beautiful and of high quality but are also meant to last. Alapcas are members of the camelid family, of which there are six living species. Today, alpacas continue to be raised in the South American Altiplano, high altitude regions of Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Alpaca fiber is one of the most luxerious fibers in the world. It combines many positive, commercial attributes into one valuable fiber. It is as soft as cashmere and is warmer, lighter and stronger than wool. It is shorn from the animal without causing it any harm. Because is contains no lanolin, alpaca fiber is naturally hypoallergenic. It is also breathable with an insulating nature, useful in both cool and warm temperatures. One of the may advantages of alpaca fiber is its ease of maintenance. Grease and oil do not spot alpaca as easily as thy do other fibers. Due to alpaca's ability to naturally repel water, spills can easily be blotted up. Alpaca fiber naturally reduces static electricity and rarely pills due to the makeup of the fiber. |