The Domesticated Alpaca
People interested in allergy bedding may want to take a look at comforters filled with fine
alpaca wool. In the Andes mountains of South America, an animal called the alpaca was
domesticated thousands of years ago to bear loads for the natives. Alpacas look much like
llamas, belonging to the Camelid family. The most distinctive feature about the alpaca is
that it has a very thick, soft wool coat. The presence of such a luxurious coat is not
surprising as the high altitudes
of the Andes make it an inhospitable place. Compared to sheep, the alpaca fleece is much softer and finer, resembling the plumules of goose down rather than the coarse, crimped fibers of sheepswool.
A Thousand-Year Old Technology
Peruvan natives have been using alpaca wool for thousands of years. Not only does it serve
as pack animal, it's also used as a soure of fiber as well as meat. However, the Peruvan
government has warned against continued consumption of alpaca. Nowadays the animal is shorn
for its fur and continues to carry loads for Peruvans.
Soft and Fine
Alpaca fibers have been used in woven products such as sweaters, gloves, scarves and hats.
More recently, consumers have seen the appearance of alpaca comforters. The softness is said
to rival cashmere. The softness, fineness and fill-power of alpaca wool means that it has
been brought to the U.S. to be made into down alternative comforters. In addition, the
lightness and softness is such that alpaca wool resembles goose down in a high warmth-to-weight
ratio. This means that you can get a wool comforter that insulates as well as a down comforter,
and at the same weight! Alpaca products are different in other ways from the woolen counterparts.
For example, normal wool is a very crimped fabric, meaning that there lots of natural bends in
individual fibers. These crimps ensure that a sweater made of sheepswool can easily stretch.
On the otherhand, the alpaca fleece is very straight and soft, so garments and fillers made of
these kinds of fibers will not stretch.
The Lack of Lanolin
Why are alpaca comforters so soft and fine? The answer lies in the lack of lanolin. Lanolin
is a grease secreted by sheep and makes up perhaps 20% of the fleece after it is shorn and
separated from the sheep. The grease is hydrophobic, which helps repel moisture and water.
Unfortunately, lanolin also causes sensitivities or allergies in many people. Since alpaca
wool is lacking in lanolin, it's capacity to retain allergens and cause allergies is substantially
diminished compared to wool. The lack of lanolin, however has a cost: alpaca loses insulating
capacity quickly when wet.
Higher Quality is Pricier
The high quality alpaca wools is expensive and sells for $2 to $4 per ounce. Higher quality
means finer and softer fleeces. The fine hairs tend to come from younger animals whereas
coarser hairs come from older animals. Old animals produce thicker and coarser hair,
approaching the quality of llama fiber. One can find alpaca wool alternatives at many
retail sources, but alpaca comforters are somewhat rare and quite expensive. Like wool,
cleaning in the washing machine is not recommended. The humble hand wash is the best treatment
for your alpaca garments. Soaking for thirty minutes in water improves removal of dirt.
If you find that washing with detergent and water is unacceptable for woolen items, you
may switch to dry cleaning agents.
