Suri Alpaca: the most Precious of Yarns

One of the most prestigious yarns in the world is undoubtedly suri alpaca. It is a very soft, waterproof alpaca wool that keeps you warm during the cold seasons. The suri variety is very rare: suri alpacas make up only 5% of the alpaca population worldwide, for example, there are only 2,000 registered suri alpacas in the United Kingdom.

A rare yarn that owes its fame to its intrinsic characteristics, making it one of the most sought-after in the world, which is why suri alpaca fabric often has a higher price than traditional ones. Let’s explore what suri alpaca is and the main features derived from its yarn.

What is Suri Alpaca?

The suri alpaca is a member of the camelid family, which includes the llama, the huacaya alpaca, the guanaco, and also the camel. The alpaca is an animal native to the Andean highlands and the mountains of South America. There are two different types of alpaca: Huacaya and Suri. The fiber of the Huacaya alpaca is very similar to dense, soft, and curly sheep wool. In contrast, the suri alpaca has long, silky fiber that forms locks very similar to dreadlocks.

The fleece of the suri alpaca is fine and dense, soft and cool to the touch. Perhaps for these reasons, it is one of the most sought-after fibers in the world and is widely used by Italian fashion houses and beyond to create refined garments and luxury clothing such as sweaters, coats, and interior design fabrics.

The suri alpaca is genetically dominant, so crossing a suri with a huacaya always results in a suri. Visually, suri alpacas have a fleece that hangs from the body, moving freely and giving the alpaca a shiny appearance: the main sign of quality in a Suri is the luster, but the animal should also have a fine, dense, and oily fleece that should feel cool to the touch.

The suri variety has a rich cultural history: originally, the Incas bred this animal for its fine and soft fiber, but in the 1500s, 90% of alpacas were killed by the Spanish invasion and replaced by European livestock. Thus, the alpacas and their herders retreated to the Andean mountains to escape the conquerors and avoid genocide, although unfortunately, the mountain climate was not ideal for these animals, and many of them died.

In the early 1900s, alpaca breeding regained strength due to the rediscovered beauty of the fibers, and over time, suri alpacas began to build good resistance to high temperatures, adapting perfectly to colder areas.

Suri Alpaca Farms

Today, suri alpacas are bred in many parts of the world, from Great Britain to Australia and even New Zealand, while a large portion of the alpaca population is hosted in Chile. Today, the suri alpaca is a fully domesticated animal, easy to care for, although it may be shy and reserved, but it can make a good pet.

Alpaca breeders have used selective breeding techniques over time to improve the nutrition and care of the animals and have made significant progress with the quality of suri bloodlines and the fibers they can generate.

The thermal properties of suri alpaca fabric are among the most surprising and sought-after. Alpacas are sheared once a year using manual and gentle methods to not compromise the quality of the fiber and to protect the animal. Additionally, shearing helps the alpaca not suffer too much from the heat during the summer months.

The Main Properties of Suri Alpaca Fibers

Fibers derived from suri alpaca have unique properties that make them more expensive than other alpaca breeds. On the skin, suri alpaca fiber leaves an indescribable feeling of freshness and softness, almost comparable to cashmere. Generally, it is warmer than wool and has the luster of silk. Additionally, suri alpaca fibers are partially hollow, allowing for the production of lightweight garments with excellent thermal properties as the finished product is fine, soft, and warm.

The shades of suri alpaca range from white to beige with gray and sometimes even pinkish hues. Some have dubbed this yarn “wool of the Gods,” a nickname that refers to the high quality of suri alpaca fibers, which fall into a mid-high price range. Suris have up to 22 natural shades including white, pink, brown, gray, and black.

Suri alpaca wool does not contain lanolin and is therefore hypoallergenic; moreover, no chemicals are used in the processing of this yarn, allowing the fiber to remain as natural as possible. Suri alpaca fibers thus have some properties that make them unique:

– Greater breathability;
– Ability to absorb body moisture;
– Naturally windproof;
– Fire-resistant;
– Low static electricity;
– Odor-resistant;
– Completely natural and biodegradable.

How is Suri Alpaca Yarn Obtained?

Suri alpaca fiber is long and fine and requires washing to remove dirt residues and the thin layer of lanolin present, as well as a combing phase: the fiber is very similar to hair, and to ensure it retains all its qualities, it must be processed with care and very attentive manual work.

After washing, the yarn is air-dried. The entire process of obtaining suri alpaca wool is ethical and completely handmade: even the shearing is done this way with a handheld electric razor. The shearing process must be very delicate and at the same time swift to cause the least stress possible to the animals, who are often more frightened by the noise of the razor than by the shearing itself. The treatment is so gentle that even pregnant alpacas can be sheared without problems. Before shearing, the animals are grouped by fleece color, then the carding and sorting phase takes place, often performed by women in South America without the aid of machines.

Finally, the twist that gives the wool its final strength creates the actual fibers. From this point on, the magic happens: there are many garments that can be made with suri alpaca wool, one of the most beautiful and precious textile materials in the world.

Suri Alpaca Coats

In our collection of wool coats, we can list the timeless:

Their composition varies between 75/80% suri alpaca wool and 25/20% Virgin wool. This results in a soft and waterproof fabric that keeps you warm during the winter months.