Alpaca is the Best

Backstory

When we set out to make the perfect wardrobe, we expected to make something simple and comfortable, with maybe a few sets of matching pants and seven matching shirts to cycle through. We looked into many options for material, including silver and graphene. Through our research we learned a lot about the drawbacks of synthetics (nylon, polyester, spandex, etc.) and the many benefits of animal fibers.

We considered and sampled animal fibers ranging from dog fur, mohair, cashmere, angora, merino, and qiviut (the underdown of the rare Alaskan musk ox). In the end, we fell in love with alpaca, and it totally changed the possibilities for our minimalist wardrobe. Instead of buying a number of shirts you need to cycle through, you now need to own only two or three shirts total. Through our testing, we discovered we can wear the same alpaca shirt for about two to three weeks straight before we give it a light wash. And that’s with no deodorant, no added scents such as perfume or shampoo, regular exercise, not-so-careful gardening, and showering about every three days.

When you hear alpaca, you may get flashbacks of Peruvian ponchos with zig-zags in every color known to man. That’s not what we’re going for here. We’re using a simple, refined aesthetic to make clothes that have some magical qualities.

About the Animal

Alpaca is a wonderful animal domesticated in Peru. The animal is part of the camelid family, and was bred by the Incas for fiber and other uses. They are sheared once a year.

Thermoregulating

Due to the hollow fibers and natural wicking, alpaca will keep you warm when it’s cold out and cool when it’s hot. The animals have adapted to large temperature swings, and so the fiber is designed to be comfortable in a large temperature range. It’s also breathable. We like to wear our alpaca t-shirts in the hot sun as well as in the cold.

Personally, we have struggled with being frequently cold in the past. If we wear an alpaca shirt though, we can wear shorts and sandals while others complain about the temperature while wearing long sleeves, pants, and sneakers.

Easy on the Land

Alpacas are easy on the land, compared to sheep which produce wool, or goats which produce mohair or cashmere. Alpacas have soft padded feet which are gentle on the soil, and keep the ground soft enough for plants to grow. Alpacas nibble crops lightly instead of ripping plants out of the ground, which allows for vegetation to remain and benefit soil health. Cashmere farming, on the other hand, has eliminated large regions of fertile farmland.

Minimal Processing

Alpaca fibers are hypo-allergenic, and don’t require chemical scouring as sheep’s wool does. Many people who experience skin irritation from wool are able to wear alpaca, because alpaca is free from lanolin. The microscopic scale structure of alpaca means it doesn’t require a superwash or even an enzyme wash as much of sheep’s wool used for next-to-skin garments does. Superwash is a process to remove the fiber scales, and it requires a strong chemical bath and then a coating of plastic. The superwash also removes some natural desirable qualities. The lack of processing for alpaca means our clothing can stay more natural.

We don’t spray our clothing with any synthetic chemicals as a finishing process, so you can wear them right when you buy them without fear of VOC (volatile organic compounds) off-gassing.

Soft

With a fine micron count (diameter of the fiber) and low scale structure, alpaca feels very soft to touch and isn’t scratchy.

Naturally Colored

Alpaca comes in a range of beautiful colors, so we are able to avoid all dyes and bleach.

Fire Resistant

Alpaca fibers self-extinguish when exposed to direct flame. Synthetics, on the other hand, can melt onto your skin in a fire.

Pilling Resistant

Alpaca fibers are naturally pilling resistant, so you shouldn’t see those little balls of fiber that appear on sweaters. We use a reputable supplier who does batch tracing to ensure quality and long staple fibers. Between the yarn twist, knit, and fiber, we designed the clothes to look good for a long time.

Stink-Free and Anti-Microbial

Alpaca fiber is anti-bacterial, so some people find they can stop wearing deodorant when they switch to alpaca shirts (try it out and let us know how it goes). In addition, we use a pointelle mesh knit in the armpits to provide extra breathability. To freshen your clothes, just let them air out for a day. You can also put them in the sun, and the UV light will take care of any remaining bacteria from your sweat.

Also alpaca poop doesn’t smell. Not that this is relevant to you at all, but it makes it a nice farm animal. Their poop is used directly in garden beds as fertilizer, without needing to be composted first. Many people like to keep a few alpacas to help on their farms to improve soil and keep weeds down. They can also be quite cuddly and friendly.

Dirt Resistant

Alpaca naturally sheds dirt and debris easily. While gardening, we’ve found soil won’t stick to our shirt.

Water Repellent

The fibers wick away moisture, and the clothes tend to stay dry. Wool can absorb as much as 30% of it’s own weight in water. Alpaca, on the other hand, holds a maximum of 8%.

Strong

If you measure the tensile strength of alpaca fibers, it comes out to 50 newtons per kiltotex, so they’re unlikely to break and cause pilling or other damage.

Shrink-Resistant

Alpaca is less likely to shrink than other animal fibers, due to the low scale height on the fibers.

Biodegradable

Not that you’d ever want to get rid of your Aesthetic Protocol clothing, but at the end of it’s life, you can compost it fully.