The alpaca is a domesticated South American camelid belonging to the Camelidae family. Its domestication dates back thousands of years, with archaeological remains from Peru’s Mochica culture depicting representations of alpacas.
The alpaca was domesticated around 7,000 years ago by Andean herders. The high value of its fiber is evident in Andean textiles dating as far back as 1200 B.C. The ancient Inca civilization regarded alpacas as treasures for their economy, transforming their fleece into a form of cashmere reserved for royalty. Today, handmade alpaca textiles are highly prized worldwide.
The indigenous people of the Titicaca region initiated alpaca domestication, which became the foundation of their cultural development, providing raw materials for their textile industry and meat for sustenance. During the Inca period, especially between the 11th and 15th centuries, they excelled in alpaca production and exploitation.
However, the arrival of Spanish colonizers led to a decline in the alpaca population. This trend continued until 1980, after which the population began to increase due to the growing global demand for alpaca fiber.
Alpacas inhabit the high-altitude plateaus and punas of the Andes, mainly in Peru, northern Argentina, western Bolivia, northeastern Chile, and Ecuador. Peru hosts the largest alpaca population, with their natural range at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 meters above sea level. Since the 21st century, alpacas have also been raised in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
There are two main breeds of alpacas, distinguished primarily by the characteristics of their fiber:
The primary use of alpaca fiber is in the textile industry. High-quality yarns, initially from Peru, are also blended with other wool types, such as Italian and English wools.
Alpaca fiber boasts 22 natural colors, ranging from white to cream, brown, silver, gray, and black. By blending fibers, an infinite variety of natural shades can be produced. Although white fiber is the most commercially favored for dyeing, this preference risks reducing the diversity of other natural colors.
The fineness of alpaca fiber is determined by the thickness of its filaments, measured in microns (µm). This parameter defines the type of yarn to be produced.
The alpaca continues to be a symbol of Andean heritage, valued for its ecological and economic importance, exquisite fiber, and deep cultural significance.
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