alpaca fibre

animal-hair fibre

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Alpaca fiber comes from the alpaca (Vicugna pacos), a domesticated South American member of the camel family. Alpacas are related to llamas, guanacos, and vicuñas. They are known for their fleece, which is lightweight, strong, lustrous, and highly insulating.1

There are two breeds of alpaca: the huacaya and the suri. The suri's fleece is fine and silky, while the huacaya's is shorter and coarser. Alpaca fiber is used in various products, including parkas, sleeping bags, and fine coat linings. It can also be blended with other fibers for fabrics like dress and suit materials. Peru is the leading producer of alpaca fleece. Specialty hair fibers, like alpaca, are valued for their fine diameter, natural luster, and ability to enhance fabrics.12

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alpaca
Alpaca fibre is sometimes combined with other fibres to make dress and lightweight suit fabrics and is also woven as a pile fabric used both for coating and as a lining for outerwear. Peru is the leading producer of the fleece, most of it being…
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Alpaca fibre is sometimes combined with other fibres to make dress and lightweight suit fabrics and is also woven as a pile fabric used both for coating and as a lining for outerwear. Peru is the leading producer of the fleece, most of it being…
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wool
animal fibre forming the protective covering, or fleece, of sheep or of other hairy mammals, such as goats and camels. Prehistoric man, clothing himself with sheepskins, eventually learned to make yarn and fabric from their fibre covering. Selective sheep breeding eliminated most of the long,…
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animal fibre forming the protective covering, or fleece, of sheep or of other hairy mammals, such as goats and camels. Prehistoric man, clothing himself with sheepskins, eventually learned to make yarn and fabric from their fibre covering. Selective sheep breeding eliminated most of the long,…
Read More

specialty hair fibre
llama, alpaca, and vicuña (q.q.v.) fibres, all from members of the genus Lama.
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llama, alpaca, and vicuña (q.q.v.) fibres, all from members of the genus Lama.
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