Alpaca Fleece Facts

The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) is an agricultural cooperative formed and owned by alpaca producers in North America, for the purpose of collecting and processing alpaca fiber and distributing alpaca fiber, related products, the profit from them to its owners (members). Our goal is to maximize the long-term benefits to our members, the individual alpaca fiber producers, and to the alpaca breeding industry as a whole.

Since its founding in 1998, AFCNA has grown to over 1,000 members. We welcome all North American alpaca owners to join the co-op and work with us to build a sustainable and successful alpaca fiber industry.

Alpaca fleece incorporates the finest features of the world’s natural fibers. It is as soft as cashmere and warmer and stronger than wool. Alpaca fleece grows longer and faster than that of a camel or vicuna, and it comes in more natural colors than any other animal fiber on earth.

The Inca kings recognized the alpaca’s unique qualities and reserved its cloth for the exclusive use of their royal court.

THE ALPACA ADVANTAGE

Alpaca fleece is valuable because it combines so many positive, commercial attributes into one fiber. There are no negative characteristics to be found in the alpaca's fleece. Mother Nature designed the ideal fiber for use by mankind and then placed it on the gentle alpaca.

Alpaca fleece is found naturally in 22 distinct colors. The fiber can also be blended to produce an infinite array of natural colors.

The fiber from the alpaca is unusually strong and resilient. The strength of the fiber does not diminish as it becomes finer, thus making it ideal for industrial processing.

Alpaca fleece is easily dyed any color and always retains its natural luster.

Raised at high altitudes in freezing cold, the alpaca has developed more thermal capacity in its fiber than almost any other animal. The fiber contains microscopic air pockets which create lightweight garments with high insulation values.

Alpaca fleece has a natural, rich luster which gives garments made from 100% alpaca fleece high visual appeal.

People who own alpaca sweaters will find that they practically last forever. Alpaca fiber does not easily tear, pill, stain, or create static. It is easily cleaned.

These are just a few of the advantages of alpaca fleece and fiber.