4949 x 3301 px | 41,9 x 27,9 cm | 16,5 x 11 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
25 luglio 2012
Altre informazioni:
Alpaca is considered to be a luxury fibre. The Alpaca is a camelid (related to camels) like the Llama. It produces a fairly fine, soft fibre in varying natural hues from white through to fawn, to browns, and grey to black. This fibre has been used for centuries in woven fabrics and vast amounts were imported to Europe for use in suiting. The main producing area are the mountainous South American countries of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, but animals have been successfully bred more recently in other countries, on a smaller scale. This trend is rising but production is rather limited at present, with no real discernible difference in quality. It is a warm fibre and its quality varies from fine to very coarse. It is difficult to dye particularly in dark colours. Alpaca fleece is the natural fiber harvested from an alpaca. It is light or heavy in weight, depending on how it is spun. It is a soft, durable, luxurious and silky natural fiber. While similar to sheep’s wool, it is warmer, not prickly, and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic. Alpaca is naturally water-repellent and difficult to ignite. Huacaya, an alpaca that grows soft spongy fiber, has natural crimp, thus making a naturally elastic yarn well-suited for knitting. Suri has no crimp and thus is a better fit for woven goods. The designer Armani has used Suri alpaca to fashion men's and women's suits. Alpaca fleece is made into various products, from very simple and inexpensive garments made by the aboriginal communities to sophisticated, industrially made and expensive products such as suits. In the United States, groups of smaller alpaca breeders have banded together to create "fiber co-ops, " to make the manufacture of alpaca fiber products less expensive.
