We believe an object can elevate both beholder and maker. In a world of mass-produced goods, we offer artisan-made home and apparel crafted in fair-trade environments from around the globe. We strive to live fully, slow down to enjoy life’s little luxuries, and choose everyday to create a world connecting maker, owner and earth.
The shearing of alpaca fleece is a very natural process that occurs only once a year. And yet, the high yield of alpaca wool from this single annual event produces enough for market share.
Thus,alpaca fibre is a sustainable natural resource.
One alpaca can yield up to 9-14 lbs of fleece per shearing, compared to the 4-6 oz. a goat produces annually for cashmere.
Alpaca farming is alsoanimal-friendly. Shearing an alpaca’s fleece is harmless for the docile creature, and actually beneficial for their health. By removing the fleece, farmers rid their alpacas of the chance to become susceptible to unhealthy heat stress during warm summer months.
But it’s alpaca wool’ssoft,warmandlightweight features that’ll leave you saying,“I want that for me!”
Here are 3 reasons why alpaca makes for a luxurious textile choice!
Alpaca fibre is assoft as cashmere, but the manufacturing process isn’t harmful to the animal.
Alpacas are shorn only once a year, whereas goats are shorn frequently, despite not having much fat on their bodies.
This is particularly concerning during the winter months when cashmere is at its highest demand. Goats shorn during these cold months can freeze to death.
Coveted for itsnatural sheen, alpaca wool is similar to that of silk. It is a characteristically soft, durable, and silky natural fibre.
Its various flexible properties also allow alpaca to adhere to natural plant-based dyes- like Pokoloko’s system of using onion, corn and cochineal to add natural shades ofyellow,green andpurple to our collections!
Natural Alpaca does come in 22 herd colours and over 300 shades!
Ranging from black to silver, rose grey to white, and mahogany brown to light champagne- there is a shade for everyone’s taste.
Alpaca capitalizes on thesuperior style of nature toelevate your look!
Alpaca fleece is similar to sheep’s wool, but far exceeds its benefits! Alpaca is warmer, not prickly, and has no lanolin- making ithypoallergenic!
So unlike with sheep’s wool,you’ll be left without an itch!
Alpaca’s extravagant lightweight fabric is also naturally water-repellent, fire-resistant, and the kind of soft you reserve for the most special of occasions!
4. Alpaca Socks
As you can see, Alpaca stacks up against the most coveted of fibres. But its natural characteristics and environmentally friendly production put natural alpaca wool way ahead of the pack.
Check out Poko’s collection of Alpaca Wool products here, and join the alpaca movement today- one eco-friendly sweater and dryer ball at a time!
