Why choose a sweater from the Alpaca Royal collection instead of a regular alpaca sweater?
Alpaca wool has many properties that have made it considered a luxury material from the time of the Incas to this day. Royal quality alpaca fiber is the finest alpaca fiber on the market, available in sufficient quantities for commercial knitting production. The products in Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection are made from 100% Royal quality alpaca fiber.
There are estimated to be over 30 natural colors of alpaca fiber in the world. The colors in Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection mimic these natural shades of alpaca. The fiber is primarily used undyed, but if fiber of the desired color 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. Color chart of alpaca fibers. (Image by International Alpaca Association - IAA)
What does alpaca fiber quality mean in practice?
The primary quality factor is the fineness of the individual fiber, which is expressed in microns, or thousandths of a millimeter. To facilitate communication, official names used in the apparel industry have been given to different micron levels, making it easy to understand how fine the fiber is. The smaller the micron count, 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 approximately 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 does not itch, even if lower quality alpaca wool would. A high-quality 100% Alpaca Royal collection knit has a subtle, natural sheen, which further enhances its luxurious look 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 by 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 silk are stronger than alpaca fiber. This makes the products in the Alpaca Royal collection very durable. A 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 knits are more durable than alpaca knits 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. Breeders belonging to indigenous Peruvian communities 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. Royal Alpaca fiber growers receive significantly better compensation than for coarser quality wools.
An alpaca knit consumes little water during its lifecycle. Alpacas, like other camelids, manage well with very little water, and the fiber does not require chemical softening treatments, unlike, for example, merino wool. The knit repels dirt and odors, so it only needs to be washed rarely. A knit made from 100% Royal Alpaca is completely biodegradable.
Ruukin Kehräämö uses lower quality fiber, for example, as stuffing wool and for the production of interior design products and felted products.
