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Read our Alpaca Blog

6 reasons why Alpacas are good for our planet

🦙 Alpacas tread lightly on this earth.  They have dainty soft padded two toe feet unlike other grazing herds.  This helps prevent them from trampling plants and eroding fragile hillside.

🦙 Alpacas eat very gently.  While many grazing animals pull the grass up by the roots with their teeth, alpaca just nibble the tips, carefully leaving the roots intact so plants can regrow.

🦙 Alpacas are abstemious and only eat what they need.  They consume less than half the amount per day that sheep do and like other camels, they don't need to drink much either!  

🦙 Alpaca wool does not contain lanolin and therefore needs much less processing than sheep’s wool.  No harsh chemicals and very little water needed.

🦙 Alpaca poop is very rich in nitrogen and potassium compared to other herds, making it an ideal fertiliser! It's also easy to pick up as alpaca like to poop in one place! 

🦙 Alpaca wool is 100% Biodegradable and Recyclable.  You could compost one of our cardigans - although we'd prefer you to wear it for as long as possible first.

Read our Alpaca Blog
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Sustainable Knitwear

Discover Alpaca

Just imagine, a clothing fibre which is hypoallergenic,  weightlessly warm, uniquely soft, biodegrable, recycable and extremely hardwearing (ie it doesn't pill and bobble) ....

Discover ALPACA.  Combine the above with our simple, timeless design and Eureka!  Here at Samantha Holmes, we like to create sustainable alpaca clothing and accessories which will last you for years.  Forget recycled polyester, give your cashmere a break and try our alpaca knitwear instead.

Since 2003, Samantha Holmes has been clothing happy customers around the world in butter soft alpaca scarves and shawls, sweaters and cardigans, cosy knitted hats and gloves.  Newborn babies have grown up treasuring their alpaca comfort blanket and mothers have saved our alpaca fur booties and baby bonnets as heirlooms for future generations.  Each piece is individually handcrafted by our skilled artisans in Peru. 

We also provide a bespoke alpaca fur throw and rug service.  Our fur rugs have travelled as far as Baku in Azerbaijan and the Blue Mountains in Australia.

Our collections are sold by independent boutiques throughout the UK, Europe, USA and beyond.  Visit the stockists link below for further details.

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@samanthaholmes.alpaca

What people are saying

Reviews

03 Feb 2026

Received much more quickly than I have been receiving regular post from Europe. The cardigan is exactly as described and pictured - I absolutely love it.

Mary Paddock

29 Jan 2026

These alpaca rib knit socks have not left my feet since I received them for Christmas. I suffer with cold feet and these have kept my lower legs cosy throughout January. Super soft and not too thick to wear with my winter shoes and boots. I purchased a second pair within a week!

Janet

27 Jan 2026

I bought the Houndstooth Scarf for my Mother's birthday and she is absolutely delighted with it. The blue is a beautiful warm shade, almost turquoise and looks even better in reality. She says it’s also very cosy

MaryAnne

19 Jan 2026

Thank you for the beautiful alpaca shawl. It was a Christmas gift for my son’s girlfriend and she absolutely loved it. She took her time reading and looking at the illustrations, trying out all the different ways to wear the shawl. The colour and the quality is top end and the gift was much appreciated. Thank you for the care and attention to the packaging too. Loved how it rolls up.

Annie Miller

06 Jan 2026

have bought the socks before & have several pairs. Very warm & comfortable

Elizabeth Marshall

01 Dec 2025

Couldn't be happier. So soft and well made

Louise

Hessian Collective

21 Nov 2025

Super company to deal with and lovely products, always a favourite of our customers

Quita

Audrey Bull

21 Nov 2025

Where do I begin! Aldrich's has been buying Samantha's exquisite alpaca beauties for nearly five years. Quality: unrivaled. Communication: none better. Fulfillment: super speedy from Scotland. We initially carried her goods seasonally in the Fall and Winter but they are now a year-round staple in our store. Every item purchased has been top-notch and our customers come back again and again for more!

Christa

Aldrich's