Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection is one of a kind
Passion for Slow Fashion
Ruukin Kehräämö's clothing collection was born from a burning desire to create beautiful, durable, and genuinely responsibly produced knitwear. Our goal is to make clothes that are so comfortable and versatile that you'll wear them day in and day out, year after year. When our knitwear becomes your favourite garment, we know we've succeeded.
Moving away from disposable fashion requires more than just timeless design. It's only possible if the garment stays neat with wear. That's why premium quality material is key for us. No other fibre can adapt to such demanding conditions as nature's own luxury product, Royal Alpaca. Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection is a tribute to this luxurious fibre and its superior qualities.
Warm and breathable
Alpacas graze high in the Andes mountains in highly variable weather conditions. Snow-capped mountains and freezing winds are not a problem for alpacas, as alpaca wool is extremely warm. In addition to cold and wind, alpacas also tolerate scorching heat.
The excellent thermoregulatory ability of alpaca wool is due to its structure. The fibres are strongly crimped into pleated curls. Thanks to these pleats, air, which acts as an insulator, is trapped between the fibres. The more crimps per inch in a fibre, the higher the quality of the wool.
The finer the alpaca fibre, the more of it there is quantitatively in the yarn, and the higher the quality of the yarn. Royal quality alpaca fibre is the finest alpaca fibre available for industrial production. This exceptionally thin fibre is 18 microns thick. Baby Alpaca, which is more commonly used in clothing, is 4 microns thicker. With the fineness of the alpaca fibre, its special properties also increase.
Alpaca wool is a breathable material. It regulates body temperature like a thermostat. An alpaca knit is warm in cold weather but feels cool in warm weather. Alpaca fibre transfers moisture away from the skin better than other natural or technical fibres.
Luxuriously soft
Alpacas are bred to produce the thinnest and most uniform wool possible. Genetics determine the quality of the wool. Royal quality fibre is rare, as only 10% of alpacas produce such fine wool. For this reason, every knit in the Alpaca Royal collection is truly a rare collector's item, a practical luxury for everyday life.
The superior softness of Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal products is due to their long and smooth fibre structure. The knit feels luxuriously soft against the skin, and its softness only increases with use. Thanks to the fibre's excellent thermoregulatory properties, the knits do not need to be thick; they can be designed to be pleasantly thin and drape beautifully.
The densely crimped structure of Royal quality alpaca fibre makes the yarn flexible and lightweight. Thanks to the elastic yarn, the knits hold their shape well. Indentations and stretching can be easily corrected by steaming.
Alpaca wool is naturally hypoallergenic because it does not contain grease (lanolin) like other commonly used wool fibres. Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal products are suitable for most people with sensitive skin.
Water and dirt repellent
When it rains, alpaca gets wet only on the surface of its wool coat because alpaca wool repels water. An alpaca knit is therefore the best possible garment for outdoor activities. Raindrops can simply be shaken off, and even a completely soaked knit feels warm and comfortable to wear.
Royal Alpaca is an antibacterial fibre and naturally repels dirt. It also does not static electricity in the same way as synthetic fibres, and therefore does not attract dust. Cleaning the knits from the Alpaca Royal collection is easy, and they only need to be washed very rarely. This further extends the lifespan of the knit.
Often, simply airing out the knit is enough to freshen it up, and small stains can be removed locally. If necessary, an alpaca knit can be washed on the washing machine's hand wash program or by hand in lukewarm water. Drying should be done horizontally so that the knit does not stretch.
Royal quality alpaca knitwear does not pill due to the long structure of the fibre. It stays neat even with repeated use, and with small maintenance measures, you'll have a trusted friend for years to come.
Ethical and ecological
Alpacas grazing in the Andes mountains live in natural balance with their environment and support biodiversity. The soft pads of an alpaca's feet do not damage the soil like hooves, nor does grazing harm vegetation.
The water consumption of alpaca wool knitwear throughout its life cycle is less compared to other natural fibres and especially synthetic fibres. Like other camelids, alpacas manage with extremely little water. Water consumption during fibre processing is moderate. Water is also saved because alpaca knits only need to be washed rarely. Since alpaca wool does not contain lanolin, washing can be done without harsh detergents. This reduces the burden on wastewater.
Fine and high-quality Royal Alpaca fibre enables the production of thin and uniform yarn. Therefore, the knits in Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection are exceptionally long-lasting. The knits remain neat and structured even with heavy use. The most ecological garment is precisely the one that is used a lot. When the knit reaches the end of its life cycle, the fibre continues its life. Alpaca fibre is 100% biodegradable. The knits can also be recycled into new fibre.
Natural
The superiority of Royal Alpaca fibre as a clothing material is noticed at the latest when you try it yourself. Once you have experienced its softness and warmth against your skin, you will probably not want to wear other clothes. You will gladly wear the products from Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection every day, and they only improve and soften further with use. A quality alpaca knit is like a second skin. That's how natural and comfortable it feels to wear.
Alpacas occur in almost 30 different colours in nature. Our Alpaca Royal collection's colour range follows this beautiful natural colour chart. We have selected the most beautiful and practical shades of brown and grey, from light to dark, for the collection. It also includes a perennial favourite, a deep shade of black, and a soft natural white.
We always use Royal Alpaca fibre as unprocessed as possible. Royal quality alpaca fibre does not require smoothing treatments like merino wool, for example. We use undyed shades that are available, and some yarns are dyed. Dyeing always takes place using carefully monitored, GOTS and Reach certified methods.
Ruukin Kehräämö's knitwear is designed with warmth and expertise in Mathildedahl, just for you. Each knit in our Alpaca Royal collection is a carefully finished, unique product. You can see and feel this in the final result.
A promise of quality
Ruukin Kehräämö uses only high-quality and ethically produced, RAS-marked (Responsible Alpaca Standard) alpaca wool. Farmers belonging to indigenous Peruvian communities care for their small herds with respect for nature, and animal welfare is paramount. For each batch of yarn arriving at Ruukin Kehräämö, the wool is collected separately from local small farms. Farmers receive twice the price for Royal Alpaca fibre compared to coarser Baby Alpaca.
Ruukin Kehräämö is the only Finnish company to have been awarded the prestigious Golden Alpaca mark by the International Alpaca Association (IAA). This recognition, guaranteeing top-tier quality, has been granted to only three clothing brands in Europe.
