ALPACA
Win-Win Textiles offers a wide range of Alpaca products, and we work with the two biggest groups of Alpaca producers in the world, based in Peru. The Alpaca is part of an ancient Peruvian heritage, and the animal was domesticated 5,000 years ago. Our product range covers Alpaca fibre sold to spinning mills, Alpaca yarns sold to knitters and weavers and a range of finished products: scarves, throws, knitwear, woven fabrics and materials for the production of garments in different countries.
We also offer products made with hand spun yarns for production on hand weaves, where we can offer really special and unique products, also with other fibres.
Our knitwear range works with 1.5gg to 16gg machines. This is a mix of fully automatic machines, manually operated machines and hand knitting. We can create a wide range of special products.
Win-Win Textiles is working to increase the use of the Alpaca fibre, and we promote Alpaca above wool and other animal hair fibres due to better sustainability credentials (read more under Sustainable Concepts) and the unique comfort as described below. Alpaca provides naturally elastic yarn, which is suitable for knitted products.
Alpaca is a unique fibre in the sense that it has a higher level of fibre core hollowness as compared to wool and therefore creates a greater thermal capacity. The tensile strength is around 50 N/ktex, which is 40% more than wool, and the single fibre length is 7% higher than wool. Furthermore, the Alpaca fibre has natural hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties with a water retention rate of 8%, compared to 16-20% for wool. Alpaca is less itchy and less prone to pilling than other animal fibres.
The Alpaca fibre is hypoallergenic, being lanolin free, and does not require harsh chemical baths in the scouring phase as wool. This often leads to a higher yield of end-product by weight. The fibre can be processed both in worsted and woollen methods and be woven, knitted and felted.
Alpaca hair comes from two breeds, the Huacaya (95% of the population) and the Suri (5% of the population). The Suri fibres are finer and softer, comparable to cashmere or silk. Huacaya fleece is very dense and crimped and is the main breed for textile application. The Alpaca is bred in 22 natural shades and through blends, Win-Win Textiles offers up to 40 natural Alpaca shades, which we can process without dyeing. When dyeing, our manufacturers mostly take the closest natural colour and add less dye stuff to reach the final colour standard requested.
Soon, our partners in Peru will have their production running under the RAS 1.0 (Responsible Alpaca Standard) by Textile Exchange. The standard is currently under development and is expected to be released during 2021.
You will find more information under Sustainable Concepts under Wool & Animal Hair, and we have many of our Alpaca materials in our Fabrics & Materials research store online in the Customer Area on this site.
Please contact us if you would like a user account and get free access to all materials and information.
