Values - not just empty talk, but the strong principles that guide how we operate

Expertise

At the heart of everything we do is strong expertise and a desire to raise the appreciation of natural fibers, especially alpaca wool. Our expertise is built on over 30 years of experience with alpacas and on international scientific research evidence related to alpacas.

Raising alpacas and processing alpaca fiber, as well as 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 equipment. We are still asked for advice by both educational institutions and many entrepreneurs working in the industry. 

Our expertise is reflected in the quality of our products and in our customer service. We can help you in many ways to choose the right product, and we're happy to do so. Our goal is satisfied users of our products!

Transparency

In summer 2024, an external, independent third-party sustainability assessment of Ruukin Kehräämö's Alpaca Royal collection was conducted by Infine Oy.  Our production chain is fully traceable back to the primary producers. Materials delivered to us from outside the EU have Fairtrade, USDA Organic and RAS certifications. We have accredited EU-based operators ourselves in accordance with our quality requirements.

Sustainability

Alpaca wool is a very eco-friendly choice; it has never been mass-produced. Originally living on the high Andean plateaus, the alpaca requires very little water and food. It grazes on renewable natural meadows, doesn't deplete the soil, but rather supports biodiversity.

We aim for as natural a process and result as possible, without unnecessary chemical treatment (cf. e.g. merino wool's superwash -treatment"). The color shades that are available in natural tones we select for the collection as they are. We dye some of the yarns to mimic alpaca's natural color shades. The yarns used in Ruukin Kehräämö's products are always dyed using responsible and safe methods certified under REACH and GOTS."

Our alpaca products adhere to the principles of sustainable development throughout the entire production chain, from alpaca farming to the finished product. We also provide maintenance and recycling services for our products.

We design products to withstand time, wear, and trends. The industrially produced knitwear in our collection is sewn into shape from pieces knitted to shape. If necessary, an already knitted garment can be unraveled back into yarn. The very fine Royal alpaca fiber we use (<18 µm) is rare and therefore it is important that no waste is generated. If you'd like to read more about the properties of alpaca fiber, check out our blog post.

We have taken environmental sustainability into account throughout the entire product lifecycle. As an example, and contrary to common practice, we have retained the delivery fee on our products. This way we avoid unnecessary returns and reduce the carbon footprint of our products.

Ethics

To us, the term "ethical" means ecological, social and economic responsibility. Animal welfare is important to us, and we have chosen partner farms whose operating principles align with our requirements.

We also support Peru's indigenous alpaca breeders by encouraging them to carry out rigorous breeding work. From alpaca fiber that meets our quality requirements (Alpaca Royal <18 µm) he receive better compensation than, for example, the so-called baby alpaca (> 22 µm) - or from superfine (> 24 µm) grade fiber . We are also involved Queshua Benefit -organization's in operation. Alpacas play an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty in South America .