Why choose a sweater from the Alpaca Royal collection instead of a regular alpaca sweater?
What is Royal Alpaca?
Alpaca wool has many properties that have made it a luxury material from the time of the Incas to the present day. Royal quality alpaca fiber is the finest alpaca fiber on the market, available in sufficient quantities for commercial knitwear production. Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection products are made from 100% Royal quality alpaca fiber.
There are over 30 natural alpaca fiber colors in the world. Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection colors mimic these natural alpaca shades. The fiber is primarily used undyed, but if desired color fiber is not available undyed, it is dyed using GOTS and REACH certified methods. The Peruvian alpaca population is mostly white, and therefore, the availability of rare Royal quality fiber in other colors is challenging.
Figure 1. Alpaca fiber color chart. (Image International Alpaca Association - IAA)
What does alpaca fiber quality mean in practice?
The primary quality factor is the fineness of a single fiber, expressed in microns, or thousandths of a millimeter. To facilitate communication, different micron levels have been given official names used in the apparel industry, making it easy to understand how fine the fiber is. The smaller the micron number, the thinner the individual fibers and the softer the fiber and products made from it feel. For comparison, the diameter of a human hair is approx. 40-120 microns.
Coarse Alpaca < 30µm
Alpaca ≤ 28µm
Superfine Alpaca ≤ 24 µm
Baby Alpaca ≤ 22 µm
Royal Alpaca ≤ 18 µm
Soft and shiny
Fine quality alpaca wool is soft and non-prickly on the skin, but not all alpaca wool is. Many of the properties of alpaca wool are due to the fineness of the individual alpaca wool fiber, and the properties deteriorate with thicker fibers. An alpaca knit made from Royal quality fiber feels soft against the skin and doesn't itch, even if lower quality alpaca wool might. High-quality 100% Alpaca Royal collection knitwear has a subtle, natural sheen, which adds to the luxurious impression and feel.
Insulating and body temperature regulating
Due to its structure, alpaca fiber insulates significantly better than sheep's wool. It does not absorb moisture and regulates body temperature. Alpaca does not contain lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic and antibacterial.
Figure 2. Close-up of alpaca wool. (Image International Alpaca Association - IAA)
Water and dirt repellent
High-quality alpaca fiber repels water and dirt, keeping the animal dry and clean. These properties are also retained in Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal knitwear.
Lightweight and durable
Alpaca fiber is the third most durable natural fiber in the world in terms of tensile strength; only silk and spider web are stronger than alpaca fiber. This makes the Alpaca Royal collection products very durable. Non-pilling yarn and a knit that holds its shape well can only be made from high-quality fiber, which is why Alpaca Royal collection knitwear withstands wear better than alpaca knitwear made from lower quality fiber.
Responsibly produced
Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection uses only ethically produced, RAS-marked (Responsible Alpaca Standard) and USDA-certified organic alpaca wool. Indigenous Peruvian breeders care for their small herds with respect for nature. For each batch of yarn arriving at Ruukin Kehräämö, the finest Royal quality fibers are collected separately from local small farms. Breeders receive significantly better compensation for Royal Alpaca fiber than for coarser quality wools.
An alpaca knit uses little water during its life cycle. Like other camelids, alpacas thrive on very little water, and the fiber does not require chemical softening treatments, unlike, for example, merino wool. Knitwear repels dirt and odors, so it needs to be washed only rarely. Knitwear made from 100% Royal Alpaca is completely biodegradable.
Ruukin Kehräämö uses lower quality fiber for, among other things, stuffing wool and for the production of interior design products and felted products.
