Baby alpaca pullover
Shipping & Returns
INSIGHT
Manufacturing in Peru
WITHOUT HARMFUL SUBSTANCES
environmentally friendly production
ANIMAL WELFARE
in breeding & wool production
FAIR-TRADE
Fair pay & working conditions
Tip for women
Basic pullover
You can wear UNA as a thin pullover on warm days or use it as an undershirt as a warming layer on colder days.
Tip for men
Soft & comfortable
TAWA is a thin pullover for men that can be worn in all seasons. Made from 100% baby alpaca, it is even suitable for people who are allergic to wool.
“I'm really excited about my sweaters from Alpakin: I love wearing them in my free time but also in the office under a blazer. The sweaters keep me warm in the cold and I don't sweat in them when it's warmer.
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“The alpaca sweater is beautifully made and has a great shine. I wear it directly on my skin in the summer and with a shirt underneath in the winter. You can tell straight away that it is not a mass-produced item. I also like that it needs to be washed less often.
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Frequently asked questions about baby alpaca pullovers
What is baby alpaca wool?
Baby alpaca wool is not - as the name suggests - the wool of small alpaca babies or young animals. Instead, baby alpaca is the highest quality alpaca wool, which is only obtained from protected parts of the body. While an alpaca produces up to 6 kilograms of wool, only about 150 - 200 grams of this is baby alpaca quality. The fineness of the alpaca fiber is measured in microns. Baby alpaca is between 19 - 21.9 microns thick and is therefore the finest and softest alpaca fiber, which is just as soft as cashmere.
Is baby alpaca warm?
Alpaca wool is the warmest wool in the world and seven times warmer than sheep's wool. Baby alpaca is not only warm, but is also able to adapt to the temperature, so you won't sweat in thin baby alpaca pullovers. Thick sweaters made of baby alpaca wool are perfect for winter; they warm you and retain your body heat at the same time.
Does baby alpaca wool scratch?
Alpaca wool in the lower quality grades Superfine, Fine and Alpaca can cause a scratchy feeling on the skin, especially for people with sensitive skin. For items of clothing that come into close contact with the skin, such as sweaters or scarves, we therefore always recommend choosing the highest quality baby alpaca. This is as soft as cashmere and is guaranteed not to scratch.
What is special about baby alpaca?
Baby alpaca is indescribably comfortable and convenient. It is soft, warm, breathable and gentle on the skin. If you are going to treat yourself to a premium fiber like baby alpaca wool, we recommend that you go for 100 percent alpaca pullovers and avoid blends. Other types of wool or synthetic materials prevent alpaca wool from developing its outstanding properties. For all its luxury, baby alpaca is also practical. Its fibers are robust and dry quickly; baby alpaca pullovers are durable and easy to care for.
What alternatives do I have to baby alpaca?
If you want something as soft as baby alpaca, cashmere is recommended. However, you will forego the warmth and breathability properties that are particularly important for pullovers, as they are exposed to sweat. Cashmere also has disadvantages when it comes to animal welfare and environmental friendliness, which is why more and more buyers are opting for alpaca instead of cashmere.
Baby alpaca pullover made from the finest wool
How do baby alpaca sweaters differ from conventional alpaca sweaters? Alpaca wool is not all the same, but is available in five different qualities that differ in their softness and comfort. In lower qualities such as alpaca, alpaca wool can be scratchy because its fibers are less fine than baby alpaca wool. Sweaters and warm ponchos made from 100% baby alpaca are softer and warmer than conventional alpaca pullovers and have an elegant, silky sheen. Natural fiber clothing made from baby alpaca is just as soft as the more popular cashmere and is in the higher-priced premium segment. But while cashmere is now subject to fast fashion mass production, alpaca wool remains in the sustainable slow fashion area, where the main focus is on quality and durability. For this reason, more and more people are opting for baby alpaca sweaters when they have the choice between alpaca or cashmere.
Baby alpaca pullovers mean maximum comfort
Alpaca wool has characteristics that no other type of wool offers. It is indescribably comfortable and convenient, making it the ideal garment for many occasions. A special feature of our collection is that we use alpaca pullovers made from 100% pure baby alpaca wool. No cheaper alpaca-wool blends like those you find in the big fashion chains, but only the purest alpaca wool. This allows it to really develop its unique characteristics.
Thermoregulation
Alpacas in the high mountains are exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations, sometimes from +15 degrees Celsius to -15 degrees Celsius in one day. Their wool must not only protect them from the cold, but also from heat and intense sunlight so that they do not overheat. Thick baby alpaca pullovers are excellent for the cold winter months, as the warmest clothing can be made from alpaca wool. At the same time, it is able to insulate against heat. This is thanks to the hollow spaces in the alpaca fiber, which warm you in cool temperatures and have an insulating effect when it is warmer outside. You can wear your baby alpaca pullover in spring, summer, autumn and winter - it adapts to the conditions like an alpaca.
Maximum softness
The highest quality baby alpaca is between 19 - 21.9 micrometers thick and is therefore just as fine and soft as cashmere. Alpaca material is also lightweight, which means it is particularly comfortable to wear and makes it a popular material for light ponchos.
Breathable
Baby alpaca is breathable and wicks sweat away so that you stay dry in your pullover. The wool contains protein molecules that reduce bacteria and prevent the formation of bad odors. For this reason, alpaca wool is also very suitable for socks for sweaty feet.
Allergy-friendly
In contrast to other types of wool, alpaca wool contains hardly any lanolin (wool fat). Soft pullovers made of baby alpaca wool are gentle on the skin and do not prick, which is why alpaca wool does not trigger allergies or skin irritations.
Rare washing
Alpaca wool is dirt-repellent, airs out well in the fresh air and dries quickly. You can wash your baby alpaca pullover less often with a clear conscience, as the wool neutralizes odors.
Baby alpaca sweater from Alpakin – animal welfare guaranteed
Pictures and videos of alpaca shearing on large farms in Peru are circulating on the Internet, showing how alpacas are mistreated for their wool. Interested parties should therefore find out before buying whether the wool was obtained without animal cruelty. Our alpaca pullovers for women and alpaca pullovers for men are made from animal welfare-certified wool, with no exceptions. We source the wool for our clothing from Peru from the supplier Michell & Co. The company has the international Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS), a seal that guarantees that the South American camels are kept in a species-appropriate manner.
Alpacas are domesticated animals and descended from wild vicuñas. Alpacas have to be sheared once a year to prevent them from overheating. The breeding of alpacas for their fine wool dates back to the Inca era. Even then, baby alpaca was reserved for the nobility due to its indescribable softness and was therefore also known as the fleece of the gods. If you want something even more exclusive than a baby alpaca pullover, we recommend vicuña wool - the most expensive wool in the world. A vicuña sweater, however, costs several thousand euros.
Baby alpaca wool does not come from alpaca babies
As already mentioned, baby alpaca is the name of a quality level and does not refer to the wool from alpaca babies. There are five quality levels of alpaca wool in total: Huarizo, Alpaca, Fine, Superfine and Baby Alpaca. Huarizo is the coarsest fiber and is not suitable for textiles that are close to the skin, while Baby Alpaca is the best choice for the warmest pullovers and softest scarves. Baby Alpaca wool can be found on protected parts of the alpaca's body, such as the back or in the hidden undercoat. Only around 200 grams of baby alpaca wool is obtained from each alpaca when sheared.
Care tips
Washing baby alpaca pullovers
The alpaca fiber has a natural dirt-repellent and your baby alpaca pullover airs out well in the fresh air, which is why alpaca pullovers need to be washed less often. Sweaters made from 100% baby alpaca are easy to care for and can be washed in the washing machine or by hand. In the washing machine on the wool cycle, at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius and no more than 600 revolutions per minute. We recommend using a wool detergent such as Perwoll Renew Wool and washing without fabric softener. Do not put your baby alpaca pullover in the dryer and do not iron it. It does not wrinkle and is best dried lying flat on the clothes rack.