Alpaca wool offers numerous advantages, like being soft, warm, itch-free, as well as hypoallergenic, and super resilient.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of alpaca wool, digging into what makes it an excellent material for clothing and other products.
Here are 5 reasons why alpaca wool is excellent for clothing
1. It is hypoallergenic.
2. It is soft.
3. It is warm.
4. It is breathable.
5. It is sustainable.
Alpaca wool is hypoallergenic
Some people cannot wear wool because they are allergic to lanolin.
Lanolin is a wax formed by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. It is also known as wool yolk, wool wax, or wool grease.
The good news is that the amount of lanolin detected on a finished garment manufactured with alpaca wool is so small that it is safe to wear for persons who are allergic to wool.
Despite claims that alpaca wool has no lanolin, it does contain some. However, because alpaca wool contains so little lanolin, practically all of it is washed away during the manufacturing process.
Alpaca wool is soft
Alpaca wool has substantially smaller scales than other wool fibers due to its unique fiber texture. This indicates that it is softer in general than other woolen clothes.
Being silky and itch-free are not always synonymous. A wool fiber might be soft yet remaining scratchy, or it can be itch-free but not particularly soft.
The problematic part is that softness is a relative concept. What I consider soft, you may consider coarse, and vice versa.
To quantify softness objectively, look at the scales of a fiber: the greater the scales, the coarser the fiber.
Wool is measured in microns, which indicate the fiber's diameter. As a result, smaller scales are often associated with smaller diameters.
When comparing a 20-micron merino fiber to a 20-micron alpaca fiber, you will see that the scales on the alpaca fiber are smaller than those on the merino fiber.
As a result, alpaca is usually objectively softer than other wool fibers.
Alpaca wool is warm
On cold days, alpaca woolen goods keep the wearer snug and comfortable.
Alpacas live in a mountainous setting at extremely high elevations where the weather isn't always pleasant. When exposed to wind, rain, and cold, alpacas developed a fleece designed to keep them warm.
Yocum-McCall Testing Laboratories reported that wearing alpaca woolen products in an atmosphere of 0°F (-17.78°C) offers you a comfort range of roughly 50°F (10°C).
While everyone senses cold weather differently, alpaca wool's insulating characteristics allow it to create a warm layer of air between the body and the garment.
And generally, there are three reasons why alpaca wool is excellent to wear during cold weather.
1. It has a fiber texture that distinctly traps warmth inside, working like a portable mini-heater.
2. It is water resistant, keeping you from getting wet while keeping you warm as it remains dry.
3. It is resistant to wind, lessening what extra cold you may feel.
Alpaca wool is breathable
Alpaca woolen clothes do not feel damp or sweaty due to their insulating characteristics.
Alpaca woolen clothing is quite breathable and will make you feel completely at ease.
The fact that wool is breathable is a huge advantage for people who want to be on the go while wearing an alpaca woolen outfit.
Because of its breathability, alpaca wool is ideal for a variety of activities such as going grocery shopping, riding a bike, going on a hilly walk and camping vacation, or simply relaxing on your couch.
If you’re heading for an adventure or outdoor activity, an alpaca woolen garment will not cause you to overheat, sweat excessively, or require you to change garments frequently.
In a nutshell, alpaca wool is both isolating and insulating.
It keeps cold and heat out while maintaining a steady temperature inside, or beneath, the fiber. At the same time, alpaca wool is thermoregulating, which means it adapts to temperature fluctuations.
As our bodies generate heat, the alpaca wool fiber releases some of the warm air via its threads to keep us cool. When we overheat and begin to sweat, the alpaca wool fiber absorbs the sweat and the moister evaporates.
Alpaca wool is sustainable
Because of the thermoregulating properties of alpaca wool, it can be worn all year, even in the heat. Alpaca woolen items shield you from direct sunshine and keep your body from overheating.
While wearing wool in the summer may seem counterintuitive, it is actually pleasant. Because of its exceptional ventilation and the fact that alpaca wool does not soak much water from sweat, you can be confident that your body will stay at a pleasant temperature beneath an alpaca woolen garment.
So you don’t have to worry about bad odors when wearing alpaca clothing. All of its excellent qualities prevent bacteria from building up and giving you unpleasant smells.
And it is not only sustainable to wear but it is, in fact environmentally sustainable.
Alpacas are almost never harmed when used for their wool.
The way native Peruvians and other groups harvest alpaca wool is animal-friendly and pays respect to the environment.
Find your alpaca wear today!
Alpaca wool clothing and products are excellent not only in that they are practical and convenient but because they are also beautiful.If you are looking to add a touch of native Peru to your wardrobe or simply want to honor the ancestral traditions, you can easily find these fashion products.
If you are looking for alpaca products like clothing and accessories, made with 100% sustainable, top quality and exquisite designs, shop now at Hand Made by Marion.
We have clothes, ponchos, accessories, home decor and more.
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