Alpaca wool vs. Cashmere wool

Alpaca wool and cashmere wool are often compared and their similarities praised, however they not only come from very different animals, but also have different characteristics. Let’s see which ones.

Cashmere is certainly among the best known and most used wools in the world. It is obtained from the undercoat of the Capra Hircus which lives in the mountainous areas of southern Asia, on the Tibetan plateaus, in the Himalaya region and mainly in Mongolia, but also in areas such as Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey and India.

It is said that Marco Polo discovered in the thirteenth century, inside some caves in Mongolia, representations of wild goats domesticated by man. It is therefore probable that, already in very distant times, shepherds raised these goats capable of providing particularly warm wool.

Cashmere goats

To protect themselves from the climate conditions, these goats have two coats: one is superficial, formed by coarse hair called “giarre”, and one is closer to the body, composed of a short, thin and very warm fluff, called “duvet”. In the spring, the shepherds first cut the external hair with scissors and then collect the finer part with special long-toothed combs. The fibers of the two goat coats are then separated, because only the duvet constitutes the proper cashmere.

Alpaca wool, on the other hand, is rarer than cashmere. However, it is 7 times warmer than sheep’s wool and 3 times more resistant and much softer and lighter. This silky, soft and resistant fiber has unique thermal properties thanks to the microscopic air pockets. These pockets allow the body to breathe while maintaining a constant body temperature.

There are 2 alpaca breeds, the Suribreed and theHuacaya breed. The Suri breed is more valuable than the Huacaya breed because its fiber is smooth and very fine, brilliant enough to resemble silk, but the Suri breed is only 1% of the world population of Alpaca in percentage.

Alpaca group grazing in the Andes

Depending on the age, an alpaca can produce 3 to 6 kg of wool per year, so in 30 years of life it produces about 120 kg. Shearing can be done every year in spring, before summer.

Both yarns have the characteristics of being hygroscopic, antistatic, very soft and hypoallergenic, however, comparing the two wools, an alpaca dress is lighter, perspires more, is warmer and more resistant to wear and isn’t pilling. Alpaca wool is also present in nature in many more color variations than cashmere, thus requiring less dyeing.

The increase in the demand for cashmere wool has also increased the number of farms of these goats which in turn has pushed prices and quality downwards. Breeders started to cross herds and, as a result, goats produce more wool, but the fiber is shorter and unrefined. Fabrics not only lose their softness, but are also more likely to pilling. Also, many manufacturers mix cashmere fibers with yarns, often synthetic, to increase the softness of the garment and further lower the price.

The growing breeding of Hircus goats has become harmful to the environment. Their sharp hooves destroy herbs and plants close to the ground. They graze the plants near their roots destroying them. It is an animal that is easily adapted, which is why it has been introduced in different territories far from the area of origin, causing serious damage to ecosystems: in fact, the species has been included in the list of 100 of the most invasive and harmful in the world.

The alpaca, on the other hand, is an animal that does not harm the territory as it grasps the grass without damaging the roots and the cushions that cover the hooves allow the animal to walk on the ground without compromising its integrity. Finally, alpacas consume less water than goats and grow enough wool for four or five sweaters in a year. According to the National Resource Defense Council, four goats take the same amount of time to produce enough cashmere for a single sweater.

A sweater made of baby alpaca wool, in terms of softness and strength, wins over cashmere. Cashmere fibers are four centimeters long, while alpaca fibers measure between eight and twelve centimeters. This means that alpaca fiber garments are more resistant, therefore long-lasting and less prone to pilling effect.

The baby alpaca is the new cashmere!

When purchasing a wool product, it is therefore advisable to choose a garment that can last over time and which also has an eco-sustainable aspect for both the animals involved and the environment. We therefore want to remind you that Inkanti garments are 100% baby alpaca wool, obtained and treated in an ethical and eco-sustainable way.

Let yourself be enchanted by Inkanti baby alpaca fiber!