Why choose a knit from the Alpaca Royal collection instead of a regular alpaca knit?
What is Royal alpaca?
Alpaca wool has many properties that have made it considered a luxury clothing material from the time of the Incas to this day. Royal-grade fiber is the finest, softest, and most valuable alpaca fiber on the market that is available in sufficient quantities for commercial knitwear production. The products in Ruukin Kehräämö’s Alpaca Royal collection are made from 100% Royal-grade alpaca fiber.
It is estimated that there are as many as 30 natural colors of alpaca fiber in the world. The colors of Ruukin Kehräämö’s Alpaca Royal collection follow these natural shades of the alpaca. The fiber is primarily used undyed, but if the fiber of the desired color is not available undyed, it is dyed. The alpaca population in Peru is predominantly white, and therefore, the availability of the rare Royal-grade fiber in other colors is challenging. The yarns we use have the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate.
Alpaca fiber color chart. (Image: International Alpaca Association)
What does alpaca fiber quality mean in practice?
The primary quality factor is the fineness of the individual fiber, which is stated in microns, or thousandths of a millimeter. To facilitate communication, different micron levels have been given official names used in the clothing industry, from which it is easy to understand how fine the fiber is. The smaller the micron number, the thinner the individual fibers, and the softer the fiber and the 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 ≤ 26 µm
Baby Alpaca ≤ 22 µm
Royal Alpaca ≤ 18 µm
Soft and shiny
High-quality alpaca wool is soft and non-prickly against the skin, but not all alpaca wool is like that. Many of the wonderful properties of alpaca wool are due to the fineness of the individual fiber, and these properties weaken the thicker the fiber is. An alpaca knit made from Royal-grade fiber feels soft against the skin and does not itch, even if lower-quality, coarser alpaca wool might. The high-quality knits in the Alpaca Royal collection have a subtle, natural luster, which adds to the luxurious impression and feel.
Insulating and temperature-regulating
Alpaca fiber has excellent temperature-regulating ability. It is warm and breathable, and it does not absorb moisture. Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic and antibacterial, and it does not contain lanolin like sheep's wool.
Close-up of alpaca wool. (Image International Alpaca Association)
Water and dirt repellent
Alpaca fiber repels water and dirt, keeping the animal dry and clean. These properties are also retained in the knits of Ruukin Kehräämö’s Alpaca Royal collection.
Lightweight and durable
Alpaca fiber is a strong and durable natural fiber. In studies, its tensile strength has been found to be higher than that of sheep's wool fiber. The tensile strength of an alpaca wool fiber bundle is about 40% higher than that of sheep's wool, and the tensile strength of an individual fiber is about 7% greater (Hunter, 2020). A knit that does not pill and holds its shape well requires high-quality, long-staple fiber. More thin fiber fits into the yarn than coarser fiber, and this helps to strengthen the yarn structure and increase wear resistance. The knits in the Alpaca Royal collection withstand wear better than alpaca knits made from lower-quality fiber.
Natural
Breeders belonging to indigenous Peruvian peoples care for their small herds while respecting nature. Breeders receive better compensation for Royal alpaca fiber than for coarser-quality fibers. Over its life cycle, an alpaca knit consumes a very reasonable amount of water compared to many other natural fibers. Like other camelids, the alpaca copes well with very little water, and the soft, Royal-grade fiber does not require chemical softening treatments, unlike merino wool, for example. The knit repels dirt and odors, so it only needs to be washed rarely. A knit made from 100% Royal alpaca is biodegradable.
Sources:
Hunter, L. (2020). Mohair, cashmere and other animal hair fibres. In Kozlowski, R.M. & Mackiewicz-Talarczyk, M. (eds.). Handbook of Natural Fibres, Second Edition, Volume 1: Types, Properties and Factors Affecting Breeding and Cultivaton. (pp. 279-383). Elsevier Ltd. https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/edited-volume/9780128183984/handbook-of-natural-fibres
