Alpacas in the 19th century: A new growing reputation

It was not until the mid-19th century that alpaca aroused new interest. In fact, its exceptional wool began to be known beyond Peru's borders.

It gained a famous reputation in the old world thanks to its fineness, its softness and its thermoregulatory properties. Both, natural and rare, alpaca became a material appreciated by wealthy people.

At the beginning of the 20th century (from the 1930s onwards) the mechanization of spinning - and consequently of clothing - began and alpaca fiber joined the other well known luxury fibers.

For the record, the French verb “alpaguer” is a derivative word of the term “alpague” (alpaca), which in the mid-19th century referred to high-quality men’s clothing made from alpaca wool.

Since then, alpacas have no longer been raised solely by Andean populations for their subsistence needs. They organized themselves to meet the growing demand of an international market that recognizes the exceptional value of alpaca fiber.