Understanding the Andean camelids.

In the Peruvian highlands, 4,000 meters above the sea level, thousands of years before the inkas culture emerged, two species of american camelids were tamed: The Alpaca and the Llma. Of the two remaining wild species, the Guanaco and specially the VICUÑA where the peruvians obtain the most fantastic fibre wool of the world

VICUÑA.

The Vicuña is the most graceful and scarce of south american camelids. Vicuña fiber is today the most finest and luxurious fiber and reserved for those who appreciate the extreme wool quality. in 1960 the Vicuña was on the brink of extinction, but today after an intensive recovery program, the most incredible wool fiber returns to the market in a very restricted quantities.Alpacas are the most available of the four camelids, Perú have a population of aproximately 3.5

ALPACA.

million (Peru´s is the world leader in Alpaca wool near 75% of the world total). Alpacas are the main means of subsistence for whom it constitutes and inexhaustible source of soft, beautiful and resistance fiber occurring naturally in a fantastic array of colors characteristic that is impossible to find in other natural and "noble" fibers. There two different qualitites, Baby Alpaca, the best quality a shorter fiber and Alpaca (plain). So you will find in the market sweaters and garmets that looks two times more expensive than others

LLAMA.

Further more being a form of transport, the Llama is a mystic anciet symbol in the Andean culture and it is presented in many of the rituals still carried out today. Llama fiber is used on smaller scale in the textile industry, generally for thicker garmets.