Alpaca Brands & Stores
Discover the World’s Finest Wool – Alpaca Wool – Alpaca Brands & Stores
Alpaca Brands & Stores
The success story of The Peruvian Connection began in 1976 in the streets and markets of Cuzco, the Incas’ ancient capital. Annie Hurlbut, then a 19-year-old Yale student, fell in love with the extraordinary hand-woven mantas and ponchos, made of the finest alpaca, which she discovered in the Peruvian markets.
Fascinated by these ethnographic textiles, she collected them and learned all about spinning, weaving and dyeing alpaca fibers and the Andes’ ancient textile traditions. Soon Annie started importing alpaca sweaters, which she produced in Peru, and her sister Biddy sold from her house in Kansas.
The Peruvian Connection was born.
Invisible World opened a clothing store in the small town of Juneau, Alaska, in 1985.
From this remote area, most communication still took place by mail, and the World had not yet come together as closely as it appears today through the Internet.
Considering that Juneau is located on the Gulf of Alaska and even today, the only way to get there is by boat or plane; it is almost a miracle that the company now moves goods between 13 countries around the World.
INKARI
We would also like to highlight INKARI, a company located in the Netherlands, which only sells handmade products from Peru. Among them are also lovingly made toy alpacas from 100% finest alpaca wool for children – Hypoallergenic.
INKARI is also strongly committed to the welfare of alpacas. The company focuses on sustainable production without chemical additives and supports the smaller players in the local wool industry of Peru.
Some of their Toys are also available at amazon.
Image ©SOL ALPACA
Founded in 2004, this Peruvian brand is one of the most renowned alpaca carrying brands in South America. The Sol Alpaca brand is known for its gorgeous sweaters, scarves and wraps. Created by Persian designer Fariba Heydari, Sol Alpaca designs are inspired by the Andes millenary culture, masterfully incorporating elements of contemporary fashion to achieve a unique genre of its own.
Sol Alpaca’s unique Peruvian collections were designed to last, which explains why it is so popular amongst both indigenous South Americans and tourists alike. Sol Alpaca has been able to achieve worldwide reach, with stores across Australia, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. This brand is always in harmony with the environment and nature, hence their use of natural pigments to create beautiful textiles.
Invisible World opened a clothing store in the small town of Juneau, Alaska, in 1985.
From this remote area, most communication still took place by mail, and the World had not yet come together as closely as it appears today through the Internet.
Considering that Juneau is located on the Gulf of Alaska and even today, the only way to get there is by boat or plane; it is almost a miracle that the company now moves goods between 13 countries around the World.
INKARI
We would also like to highlight INKARI, a company located in the Netherlands, which only sells handmade products from Peru. Among them are also lovingly made toy alpacas from 100% finest alpaca wool for children – Hypoallergenic.
INKARI is also strongly committed to the welfare of alpacas. The company focuses on sustainable production without chemical additives and supports the smaller players in the local wool industry of Peru.
Some of their Toys are also available at amazon.
Sustainable alpaca brands that support local communities in Peru
View of Lake Titicaca between the South of Bolivia and Peru
The highlands of the Andes make up about 20% of Peru’s total area. Typical for the Andean landscapes are the numerous long valleys and deeply incised canyons formed by large rivers. The highlands in the north do not reach the snowline and are therefore very rich in vegetation. In the central highlands of the Andes, snow-covered peaks characterize the landscape all year round.
In the southern part, around the region of Lake Titicaca, the Andes flatter and merge into the so-called Altiplano. This plateau is also the home of the alpacas. Peru also has a fascinating and rich textile history. The indigenous people already domesticated the guanaco because of its fine wool, today its descendant – The Alpaca – is raised and nourished in the Peruvian highlands.
Alpaca wool, as well as many high-quality textiles made of Alpaca, are exported from Peru. The Alpaca Brands listed here have made an outstanding commitment to sustainable production. They produce textiles directly in Peru, support the local textile industry to improve the quality of their products and contribute to the people of the Andes by offering them fair wages and independent living. We are convinced that many other brands produce ethically, but we can only mention a few.
Indigenous is an organic and fair trade fashion company that is deeply rooted in ancient Peruvian textile designs. This particular brand believes in providing sustainable women clothing by encouraging the use of organic and natural fabric.
Their commitment to fair trade is next to none, which is evident in their determination to give back to the indigenous communities.
Indigenous fashion pieces are of the highest quality, with a mixture of contemporary and traditional quality that gives it that timeless look that is missing in fast fashion apparels.
Their alpaca collection is a testament to the sustainability of this brand, from the coziness of their hand-knit alpaca sweaters, to their boiled alpaca coats, every style is a classic
Invisible World opened a clothing store in the small town of Juneau, Alaska, in 1985.
From this remote area, most communication still took place by mail, and the World had not yet come together as closely as it appears today through the Internet.
Considering that Juneau is located on the Gulf of Alaska and even today, the only way to get there is by boat or plane; it is almost a miracle that the company now moves goods between 13 countries around the World.
alicia adams alpaca
We would also like to highlight INKARI, a company located in the Netherlands, which only sells handmade products from Peru. Among them are also lovingly made toy alpacas from 100% finest alpaca wool for children – Hypoallergenic.
INKARI is also strongly committed to the welfare of alpacas. The company focuses on sustainable production without chemical additives and supports the smaller players in the local wool industry of Peru.
Some of their Toys are also available at amazon.
Founded by two innovative young men, Craig and Santiago, Alpaca Collections is a clothing brand, whose primary target is to give back to the global family.
Alpaca Collections is a brand that specializes in providing comfortable, high-quality alpaca clothing and accessories.
Their alpaca fibres are sourced directly from Peru, to create some of the finest alpaca coats, scarves and sweaters in the world.
Apart from being warm, soft and lightweight, their designs are also very comfortable and durable.
Their designs are produced from the finest alpaca textiles as seen in their cutting-edge styles and beautiful designs available for spring, winter, fall and summer.
Invisible World opened a clothing store in the small town of Juneau, Alaska, in 1985.
From this remote area, most communication still took place by mail, and the World had not yet come together as closely as it appears today through the Internet.
Considering that Juneau is located on the Gulf of Alaska and even today, the only way to get there is by boat or plane; it is almost a miracle that the company now moves goods between 13 countries around the World.
alicia adams alpaca
We would also like to highlight INKARI, a company located in the Netherlands, which only sells handmade products from Peru. Among them are also lovingly made toy alpacas from 100% finest alpaca wool for children – Hypoallergenic.
INKARI is also strongly committed to the welfare of alpacas. The company focuses on sustainable production without chemical additives and supports the smaller players in the local wool industry of Peru.
Some of their Toys are also available at amazon.
Panorama of Cuzco – Peru, the ancient Incas capital
In the center of the Peruvian Andes highlands at an altitude of 3416 m lies the city of Cuzco, once the heart of the Inca Empire and today one of the most important tourist places in Peru.
According to legend, the first Inca “Manco Cápac,” son of the sun, founded the city with his sister Mama Ocllo. Before that, the area was inhabited by the Tampu, a Quechua people. In the next 250 years, Cusco could develop considerably. Its inhabitants cultivated the terraced fields so typical for Peru, on which corn and grain are grown. Canals were built to supply the city constantly with freshwater, and trade flourished. Cusco was the Inca Empire’s cultural and economic center until the 11th Inca Huayna Capac took over in 1493. He moved the capital to Quinto
Cusco is a fascinating mixture of the influences of the Quechua Indians and Spanish colonization. So you can admire old Inca walls next to magnificent Catholic churches. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cusco’s old town has remained largely unchanged and has been able to retain its original charm.
Today the vibrant city is the “Heart of the Andes.” As Cusco is also the starting point for visiting numerous attractions such as the “Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco,” and of course, the legendary Machu Picchu – Cusco attracts several million visitors every year.
The “main market” of Cusco is located right next to the Plaza de San Francisco. Here you will find not only food, snacks and household goods but also an incredible selection of clothes and fabrics on the finest alpaca.
Skilfully woven blankets and scarves as well as many of the popular colorful textiles or sweaters made of soft alpaca wool, can be bought almost at every corner!
Cusco – the “Middle of the World” in the Andes, is also the Peruvian Textile Industry center.
Brands focusing on Baby Alpaca
Image ©Plum of London
Plum of London is a British fashion brand known for its unique baby alpaca collection. Though traditionally known for its children’s collection, the brand has recently added adult scarves and sweater to its collection.
Unlike other traditional alpaca brands, their designs come in different dazzling colours that gives it that unique look. This brand has also been featured in top British magazines like Tatler and Vogue.
Plum of London is very particular about creating designs that are both stylish and durable. Made from some of the finest natural fibres around, their designs are highly stylish and durable.
Image ©RAVEN + LILY
Raven Lily is an Austin based brand whose ultimate goal is to empower women. This brand utilizes a lot of local materials and techniques to create alluring and cozy designs.
Baby alpaca wool is their biggest raw material, which is a reflection of the traditional craftsmanship typically found among Peru women and a hallmark of their commitment to sustainable production.
Raven Lily is not one for fleeting trends, as they’ll rather offer longevity. Their products are designed to last.
They provide wearers with a comfortable feel that keeps you at ease at all times. Their handcrafted accessories can also be used to accessorize any outfit.
Raven Lily is a member of Fair Trade Federation and a certified B-corporation.
Image ©Samantha Holmes
Samantha Holmes has been providing luxury alpaca shawls, sweaters, cardigans and scarves for customers across the world since 2003. All their pieces are exquisitely designed by Peru artisans with some of the finest micron alpaca wool. Supersoft, weightlessly warm and hypoallergenic, their alpaca designs are extremely hard-wearing without the bobbling and pilling that is prevalent in most fibres.
Samantha Holmes is run by a Scottish designer who is very particular about Fair Trade principles, which explains the brand’s dedication to providing sustainable livelihood for their alpaca fibre suppliers.
They also have a baby clothing collection made from beautiful, buttersoft material for the comfort of your babies. In a bid to encourage sustainability in production, the brand sources its furs exclusively from animals who died naturally, and does not in any way encourage the killing of animals for their coats.
Did you enjoy reading about Peru and some of the most Sustainable Alpaca Brands.
Do you know any other interesting company that deserves to be listed here?
We are very much interested in reading from you – leave us a comment.
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Resources
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- Torres del Paine National Park, PBS.org (last visited Aug. 17, 2020)
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- GONZÁLEZ, B.A., PALMA, R.E., ZAPATA, B. and MARÍN, J.C. (2006), Taxonomic and biogeographical status of guanaco Lama guanicoe (Artiodactyla, Camelidae). Mammal Review, 36: 157-178. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00084.x
- Baldi, R.B., Acebes, P., Cuéllar, E., Funes, M., Hoces, D., Puig, S. & Franklin, W.L. 2016. Lama guanicoe. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T11186A18540211. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T11186A18540211.en. Downloaded on 16 August 2020
- Politics Of Consumption And Conservation: The Vicuña Trade In Peru, “UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA” – by Amy Elizabeth Cox, 2003., https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vicu%C3%B1a&oldid=939550122 (last visited Feb. 8, 2020).
- Brehms Tierleben (1922) https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.5125
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