At the Heart of Ruukki Spinning Mill - Our Ten Pillars of Operation

1. Expertise

All our operations are based on strong expertise and a desire to increase the appreciation of natural fibers, especially alpaca wool. Our know-how is based on over 30 years of experience with alpacas and international, scientific research related to alpacas. Alpaca farming, alpaca fiber processing, and running a spinning mill have made us comprehensive experts in our field.

Our small-scale spinning mill operations began in 2012 and continued until the autumn of 2023, when we sold the spinning mill equipment. Educational institutions and many entrepreneurs in the field still seek our advice. Our expertise is reflected in the quality of our products and customer service. Our most important goal is a satisfied user of our products.

2. Transparency

In the summer of 2024, Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection underwent an external, impartial third-party sustainability assessment by Infine Oy. The sustainability assessment is updated annually.

We stand behind our operations and products and keep our promises. We do our work wholeheartedly and believe that authenticity and openness generate authenticity and openness, and both are values that the modern world needs.

3. Ecological Responsibility

Alpaca fiber is 100% biodegradable, renewable natural fiber. Alpaca wool is never mass-produced. Alpacas living in the high mountain plateaus of the Andes need little water and food. They graze on renewable natural meadows, do not deplete the soil, and, on the contrary, support biodiversity.

We strive for a process and end result that is as natural as possible, without unnecessary chemical treatment (cf. e.g., merino wool's superwash treatment). For color shades available in natural colors, we choose them as such for the collection. Some of the yarns are dyed according to the natural shades of alpaca using GOTS-certified methods. Our yarns have OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Fair Trade Peru certifications.

We design products to withstand time, wear, and changing trends. The knitwear in our collection is assembled from pre-knitted pieces to minimize cutting waste. If necessary, a knitted garment can be unraveled back into yarn. The Royal quality alpaca fiber we use is rare, and therefore it is important that no waste is generated. Very fine alpaca fiber allows for the production of thin and uniform yarn. This is why Ruukin Kehräämö's knitwear is exceptionally long-lasting. The knitwear remains neat and shapely even with repeated use. Our products have a maintenance, repair, and recycling service.

Alpaca wool is hypoallergenic. It repels dirt and does not absorb odors. It also does not contain lanolin, or wool grease. For these reasons, among others, alpaca wool knitwear needs to be washed only very rarely. This reduces water consumption and the environmental burden of the product.

4. Ethics

The well-being of both people and animals is important to us, and we have chosen partners whose operating principles meet our requirements.

Through our activities, we support indigenous alpaca breeders in Peru by encouraging them in critical breeding work. For alpaca fiber that meets our quality requirements (Royal alpaca < 18 µm), they receive better compensation than, for example, for Baby alpaca (> 22 µm) or Superfine alpaca (> 24 µm). We are also involved in the Queshua Benefit organization. Alpacas play an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty in South America.

5. Quality

Superficial slogans, exaggeration, and empty promises are not our style. The best and most genuine proof of the quality of our products is a satisfied customer who returns to shop again. Many of our customers have stated that after experiencing the quality of our products firsthand, they no longer want to wear anything but Ruukin Kehräämö's alpaca wool clothing.

The transition away from fast fashion requires more than timeless design. It is only possible if the garment remains neat during use. Therefore, first-class quality material is key for us. Ruukin Kehräämö's alpaca knitwear made from Royal quality fiber does not pill. It remains neat even with repeated use, and with minor maintenance, you will have a trusted friend for years to come.

We work in cooperation with our long-term, reliable partners. Our yarns are supplied by the Peruvian Michell Group, which has extensive experience in producing and processing high-quality alpaca fiber. Our small Lithuanian sewing workshop has solid craftsmanship, and the quality of their work meets our high standards.

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.

6. Timelessness

Responsible design plays a significant role in producing responsible clothing. Ruukin Kehräämö's products are designed to be timeless in style and durable. Since Royal alpaca is a material that withstands time and wear, the product design must also support this principle.

Our products are highly versatile, and the color palette is earthy and timeless. The designs are carefully considered to suit many different body types and personalities, for men and women. We do not have seasonal collections, but rather one classic clothing collection that is occasionally updated.

We believe that timeless style is the most ecological of all styles. Ruukin Kehräämö's garment is very likely to become its user's favorite garment, and a favorite garment must withstand scrutiny, time, and wear.

7. Softness

In addition to embodying soft values in our operations, softness is also one of the most significant characteristics of our products.

The superior softness of Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection products is due to the long and smooth-surfaced fiber structure. Royal quality alpaca fiber does not have the clearly scaly surface typical of other wool fibers. The knitwear feels luxuriously soft on the skin, and the softness only increases with use.

The superiority of Royal alpaca fiber as a clothing material is most evident when you try it yourself. Once you have experienced its softness and warmth on your skin, you will likely not want to wear any other clothes. Our goal is to make clothes so comfortable and versatile that you will wear them day after day, year after year. When our knitwear becomes your favorite garment, we know we have succeeded.

8. Luxury

Thanks to the fiber's excellent thermoregulation, Alpaca Royal collection knitwear does not need to be thick; instead, it can be designed to be pleasantly thin and elegantly draping. The knitwear feels luxuriously soft on the skin, a true everyday luxury.

Alpacas are bred to produce wool that is as fine and consistent as possible. The Royal alpaca fiber used in Ruukin Kehräämö's clothing is rare, as only 10% of alpacas produce such fine wool. Therefore, every piece of knitwear in the Alpaca Royal collection is truly a rare collector's item.

Ruukin Kehräämö's knitwear is designed with warmth and expertise in Mathildedahl, just for you. Each of our knitwear pieces is a carefully finished, unique product. You will see and feel this in the final result.

9. Effortlessness

The densely crimped structure of the Royal alpaca fiber used in Ruukin Kehräämö's garments makes the yarn elastic and light. Thanks to the elastic yarn, the knitwear retains its shape well. Creases and stretching can be easily smoothed out by steaming.

Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection garments are carefree to wear and easy to maintain. Our high-quality alpaca wool naturally repels dirt, moisture, and odors, and the best way to care for the garment is to simply air it regularly. Stains should be removed locally, and when the garment needs a more thorough wash, it can be hand-washed or machine-washed on a hand-wash cycle.

Alpaca Royal collection knitwear rarely requires washing and stays neat year after year. If your favorite knitwear gets damaged, our repair service will fix it. If the alpaca knitwear you bought from us has served you for so long that it can no longer be repaired, it will get a new life through our recycling service.

10. Uniqueness

There is no other like us in the world. Besides us, only one other company in the entire world sells alpaca knitwear made from 100% Royal quality fiber. Our collection is unparalleled in Finland and Europe. Therefore, we are not exaggerating when we say that our products are unique. Our Alpaca Royal collection is anything but an ordinary knitwear collection. It must be experienced.