Alpaca

The "new cashmere" - only better!
Alpaca is a rare specialty fiber. It is stronger than mohair, finer than cashmere, smoother than silk, warmer than goose down, and breathes better than thermal knits. Alpaca is the fiber traditionally reserved for the Inca nobility. It is longer, smoother, warmer and more durable than cashmere (which comes from goats). Unlike cashmere, alpaca will not pill, wrinkle, and holds its shape for many years of comfortable wear.

Among the people of the Andes, where KUSIKUY alpaca is sourced, cloth was currency. Inca emperors rewarded the loyalty of their nobles with gifts of soft fabric made by expert weavers. They gave away stacks of fine woolen textiles to assuage the pride of defeated lords. They paid their armies in silky smooth material. For an emperor intent on glory, as most Inca emperors were, cloth making was a major enterprise of state. The imperial textile warehouses were so precious that Inca armies deliberately set them afire when retreating from battle, depriving their enemies of that which made them strong. (Novica.com).

Many KUSIKUY sweaters are made from certified superfine alpaca fleece, a fine micron fleece just found at the name of the alpaca's neck and making up just 20% of all the fiber produced by this fine animal. Alpaca fleece is naturally hypoallergenic, snuggly soft, and cozy warm.

KUSIKUY's new Royale Alpaca Silk is 80% baby alpaca and 20% silk. Baby alpaca is the finest grade of alpaca available in the world. It comes from the soft, tiny, baby hairs found at the nape of the neck of grown alpacas. Less than 10% of all alpaca fiber can be classified as "baby." Traditionally baby grade alpaca was reserved only for Inca royalty. Today we have combined this royal grade fiber with fine emperor silk to make a luscious fiber that feels as if it could melt in your hands!

To top it all off, KUSIKUY has chosen to hand micro weave this amazing combination into our newest line of full season micro knits. Micro knits are tissue weight and drape like silk and wear like steel. They are soft, flowing and comfortable year round. We are offering micro knits for the entire family - mother daughter dresses, adult and teen sweaters and child cardigans.

The animals that the KUSIKUY fleece comes from are free range alpacas that graze on the tough native grasses of the vast Andes Mountains…just as they have been doing for 5,000 years. The region is arid. Alpacas needing access to water are located on the shores of Lake Ttitcaca. They are smaller and more delicate than the llama and are more rare so their fleece is more expensive.

Bolivian alpacas and alpacas are cared for humanely and deeply honored in the Andean culture and traditions. They are rarely haltered and are usually corralled at night in tall stone corals to protect their babies from foxes and cold. Otherwise they wander the Andes Mountains in small herds.

Pompom "earnings" identify whose alpaca is whose. These are inserted with a needle on a part of the ear that is not very sensitive and is a much more humane method of identification than a tattoo or hot metal brand.

The alpacas are of original pre-Inca stock and have not been genetically modified in any way.

If an animal gets hurt it is treated with naturopathic cures: herbs and balms. There are no antibiotics, hormones or other drugs administered to the animals.

Alpaca wool is carefully hand shorn with manual sheers so the animals are not harmed and the fleece is best for spinning. The fleece is then hand washed with a mild, biodegradable, detergent specially designed for the Bolivian Altiplano environment.

Alpaca fleece come in different grades. In the Andes, the animal is gently hand shorn and its fleece laid out so grades can be hand selected. A laboratory analysis is made of the selected grades. Baby alpaca fiber is just 22 microns in diameter, super fine is 25.5 microns, standard grade is 28.5 microns and thick grade is 32 microns. KUSIKUY only knits with baby and super fine grade alpaca.

Once the fleece is graded, it is carded and spun. Our rustic line is spun by hand using a drop spindle or spinning wheel. Our super fine and Royale Alpaca Silk yarns are machine processed in environmentally safe, export quality, facilities. Some fibers will be dyed with ecologically safe, low imact dyes. Others will be left natural. Natural alpaca is found in all shades of creme, beige, brown, grey and black. There are more than 24 gorgeous shades in all. Once processed into lightweight yarn, KUSIKUY alpaca is ready to be knit into the sumptuous knits that are the trademark of KUSIKUY.