Everyone needs a few good wardrobe staples such as smart shirts and trousers, well fitting jeans and a great jacket. A warm wrap or knitted shrug is also a great investment, as it can be worn throughout the year; as an extra layer during the winter months and to keep your shoulders warm on cooler summer nights. If you like the idea of buying a good quality shrug, either for yourself or as a gift for a friend or loved one, do consider investing in alpaca wool garments. Alpaca wool is incredibly lightweight as it has a naturally hollow fibre construction, resulting in a lightweight wool that has a very good capacity for storing heat. An alpaca knitted shrug will provide lots of warmth all year round, and alpaca fibres are very strong and durable. Alpaca fibre is very long and lustrous compared to sheep’s wool, and is also completely free from lanolin. This makes it perfect for sensitive skin, and gets rid of the prickly feeling that many other wools have. The longer fibres create a very strong wool when they are woven together, and this means that a knitted shrug made from alpaca wool will not stretch, pull or develop holes as it may do with other wools. This makes an alpaca knitted shrug a great investment, as it will last much longer than you would expect from a garment made from sheep’s wool.

Alpaca wool comes in many different natural shades, over twenty two in fact! From black and white to silvers, creams and a wide range of browns, it should be easy to find something to suit you. You can of course buy alpaca wool that has been dyed a different colour, however lots of people prefer to keep their alpaca products 100%v natural. The natural colours of alpaca wool are also very neutral, so a cream knitted shrug should complement most of your existing wardrobe.

Alpaca products are generally made from two different types of alpaca wool, Huacaya and Suri. Huacaya wool is fluffier and slightly denser, and creates a wool that is slightly similar to sheep’s wool. Suri alpacas produce a sleeker and silkier fibre, which creates a correspondingly finer wool. Suri alpacas are thought to make up around 20% of the alpaca population, and consequently Huacaya wool is much more common. The rarest type of alpaca woo, is known as ‘baby alpaca; this is the first coat shorn from a young alpaca. The first pelt produced is the finest and glossiest each animal ever produces, and is very highly prized for texture and quality. Baby alpaca can be found from lots of online suppliers, and it is a very high quality fibre for knitting and weaving garments from – it was once reserved for the exclusive use of Inca Royalty! A knitted shrug or shawl made from baby alpaca is a great investment; it will be a warm and lightweight garment that will last you for many years to come, and be incredibly soft and luxurious to wear.

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