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

1. Expertise

Strong expertise and a desire to elevate the appreciation of natural fibers, especially alpaca wool, form the foundation of all our operations. Our know-how is built on over 30 years of experience with alpacas and international scientific research related to alpacas. Raising alpacas, processing alpaca fiber, and running a spinning mill have made us comprehensive experts in our field.

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 main 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 sustainability assessment by Infine Oy. The sustainability assessment is updated annually. Our entire production chain is traceable back to the primary producers. Materials supplied to us from outside the EU have Fairtrade, USDA Organic, and RAS certifications. We have accredited our EU-based operators ourselves according to our quality requirements.

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

3. Ecological Aspects 

Alpaca wool is an ecological choice and is never mass-produced. Living in the high Andean plateaus, alpacas require little water and food. They graze on renewable natural meadows, and instead of depleting the soil, they support biodiversity.

We strive for the most natural process and outcome possible, without unnecessary chemical treatment (cf. e.g., superwash treatment of merino wool). Color shades available in natural colors are selected as such for the collection. Some yarns are dyed to match alpaca's natural shades using Reach and GOTS-certified methods. Our products have maintenance, repair, and recycling services. Alpaca fiber is 100% biodegradable.

We design products to withstand time, wear, and trends. Our collection's industrially produced knitwear is assembled from fully fashioned pieces. If necessary, a knitted garment can be unraveled back into yarn. The Royal alpaca fiber we use is rare, and therefore it is important that no waste is generated. The very fine Royal quality alpaca fiber enables the production of thin and consistent yarn. This is why Ruukin Kehräämö's knitwear is exceptionally long-lasting. The knitwear remains neat and retains its shape even with repeated use.

Alpaca wool is hypoallergenic. It repels dirt and does not absorb odors. It also contains no lanolin, or wool grease. For these and other reasons, alpaca wool knitwear needs to be washed very rarely. This reduces water consumption and the environmental impact of the product.

4. Ethics

For us, ethics encompasses ecological, social, and economic responsibility. Animal welfare is important to us, and we have chosen partners whose operating principles align with our requirements. Ruukin Kehräämö uses only high-quality and ethically produced, RAS-labeled (Responsible Alpaca Standard) alpaca wool. 

Through our operations, we also 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 activities of the Queshua Benefit organization. Alpacas play an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty in South America.

5. Quality

Stuck-on slogans, exaggeration, and empty promises are not our style. The best and most authentic 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 other than Ruukin Kehräämö's alpaca wool clothing. 

The transition away from disposable fashion requires more than just timeless design. It is only possible if the garment remains neat during use. Therefore, premium 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, it will be a trusted companion for years to come.

Ruukin Kehräämö is the only Finnish company that has been awarded the prestigious Golden Alpaca mark by the International Alpaca Association (IAA). This recognition, guaranteeing supreme quality, has only been granted to 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 design of the product must also support this principle.

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

We believe that timeless style is the most ecological of all styles. A garment from Ruukin Kehräämö 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 products is due to their long and smooth fiber structure. Royal-quality alpaca fiber does not have the distinct scaly surface typical of other wool fibers. The knitwear feels luxuriously soft against the skin, and the softness only increases with use.

The superiority of Alpaca Royal fiber as a clothing material is evident when you try it yourself. Once you experience its softness and warmth against your skin, you will likely not want to wear other clothes. Our goal is to make clothes that are so pleasant to wear and versatile that you will put them on 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 good thermoregulatory properties, Alpaca Royal knitwear does not need to be thick; instead, the knitwear can be designed to be pleasantly thin and beautifully draped. The knitwear feels luxuriously soft against the skin, a true everyday luxury.

Alpacas are bred to produce wool that is as fine and consistent as possible. The Alpaca Royal fiber used in Ruukin Kehräämö's garments is rare, as only 10% of alpacas produce such fine wool. For this reason, each Alpaca Royal knitwear piece is essentially a rare collector's item.

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

9. Effortlessness

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

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

Our Alpaca Royal knitwear rarely needs washing and stays neat year after year. If your favorite knitwear breaks, 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

You won't find our kind anywhere in the world. Besides us, only one other company in the world sells alpaca knitwear made from 100% Royal quality fiber. Our collection has no equal in Finland or Europe. So 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.