Alpacas were a cherished treasure of the ancient Incan civilization and played a central role in the Incan culture that was located on the high Andean Plateau and mountains of South America. Alpacas were first imported to the United States in 1984. Alpacas are now being successfully raised and enjoyed throughout North America and abroad. There are two types of alpacas - the Huacaya and the Suri. The lifespan of the alpaca is about 20 years and gestation is 11.5 months. Alpacas eat grasses and chew a cud. Adult alpacas are about 36" tall at the withers and generally weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. They are gentle and easy to handle. Alpacas don't have incisors, horns, hooves or claws. Clean-up is easy since alpacas deposit droppings in only a few places in the paddock. They require minimal fencing and can be pastured at 5 to 10 per acre.

Alpacas produce one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. It is clipped from the animal without causing it injury. Soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool, it comes in more colors than any other fiber producing animal (approximately 22 basic colors with many variations and blends).This cashmere-like fleece, once reserved for Incan royalty, is now enjoyed by spinners and weavers around the world.

Suri alpacas are distinguished in the camelid family by their unique fiber characters. The fiber grows parallel to the body while hanging in long, separate, distinctive locks. Its artistic style enhances the graceful appearance of the animal compared to the soft, wooly look of huacaya alpacas.



Suri fiber locks, made up of high-luster fibers, drape down the sides of the body in a twisted or flat form of various size. Suri fiber has a slick hand and softness with an exquisite luster. Suri fiber is in demand and consistently brings a premium price in the fiber market. Suri alpacas emanate extraordinary vigor, intelligence, ease of breeding, and adaptability to hot and cold climates. These attributes rank high on the list of many reasons for treasuring Suri alpacas.

It is known from archaeological records that alpacas have been domesticated for 6,000 years. Early depictions of Suri alpacas dating from between 5 and 20 thousand years ago can only be found on the western slopes of the Andes mountains in Peru. The Suri appears as a distinct breed in pre-Colonial textiles, pottery, and jewelry. The word "suri" appears to originate from the Aymara language, and according to world-renowned alpaca expert Dr. Julio Sumar, refers to the lustrous quality exhibited by the feathers of a South American cousin of the Ostrich.



Suri alpacas were first brought to the United States in 1991. Importations have brought Suri alpacas from Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, giving U.S. breeders access to genetic material from all three countries in South America that produce Suri alpacas.



Today, breeders of North American alpacas enjoy the best bloodlines from South America, providing an excellent livelihood and lifestyle with the beautiful and rare Suri.

• High fashion fabric for men's and women's designer clothing
  
  


• Luxury apparel, coats, sweaters, and unique decorator items
  
  


• Specialty interior fabrics and textiles

The fiber of suri alpacas is coveted by the fashion industry and cherished by the hand spinner. Its softness of cashmere, luster of silk, warmth and featherweight of goose down, durability of wool, and its ability to accept color dyeing makes it a favorite of all fiber enthusiasts. Suri fiber blends well with wool and other fine fiber, including silk, and the yarn can be knit, crocheted, or woven.