The Fibre

At high altitudes in the Andes, alpacas live through freezing nights, intense sunlight and sharp changes in temperature. Their fleece has evolved to handle all of it.

That is what makes alpaca such a remarkable natural fibre: warm without feeling heavy, naturally breathable, soft against the skin and highly resistant to moisture. Its fine structure helps regulate warmth while keeping the fibre light and comfortable to wear.

Alpaca combines qualities that rarely come together in one fibre. It is exceptionally soft, yet strong and durable, with a naturally smooth surface and a subtle lustre.

Its fineness is what makes the greatest difference. The finer the fibre, the softer and more refined it feels against the skin — and this is where the highest grades of alpaca stand apart.

Before alpaca becomes yarn, the fleece is carefully sorted according to qualities such as fineness, length and uniformity. This selection is essential: not every part of a fleece has the same characteristics, and the finest fibres are separated from the rest.

It is a process that still depends on experienced hands and a trained eye.

"Baby Alpaca" can be a misleading name. It does not mean that the fibre comes from a baby alpaca. It refers to its fineness.

Baby Alpaca is among the finest grades of alpaca fibre, prized for its softness, lightness and comfortable feel against the skin. Royal Alpaca goes a step further, with an even finer fibre and an exceptionally soft, refined hand.

Both are considered premium grades, but they are not simply about softness. Their fineness allows us to create garments that feel light and comfortable while still offering the warmth and natural performance alpaca is known for.

At Aimara, we choose these finer grades when they bring something meaningful to the garment — not simply because the label sounds better.

Alpaca is at the heart of Aimara, but some pieces call for another natural fibre.

For these, we use Peruvian Pima cotton, known for its extra-long fibres, softness and smooth feel. It brings a lighter, breathable quality to selected pieces while meeting the same standard we look for in every material we use.

Different fibres, different strengths — chosen with the same intention: to make better clothes.