The natural fiber harvested from an alpaca is light or heavy in weight, depending on

how it is spun. It is soft, durable, luxurious and silky— similar in consistency to sheep's wool, consistency to sheep's wool, but much warmer. Because the fiber shorn from the alpaca contains no lanolin, and lacks the course and abrasive outer shell found in sheep's wool fiber, it is hypoallergenic, naturally water-repellent and difficult to ignite. It is made into various products, from very simple and inexpensive garments made by indigenous communities– to sophisticated, industrially made and expensive products such as high end suits. In the United States, groups of smaller alpaca breeders have banded together to create ‘fiber co-ops,’ making the manufacture of alpaca fiber products less expensive. Think globally, and buy locally!