The Artisan Journal

Baby Alpaca vs Cashmere: A Practical Guide to Luxury Fibres

Warmer than cashmere, softer than most people expect, and not without trade-offs. Baby alpaca and cashmere compared on warmth, softness, price, care — and the downsides nobody mentions.

How to Care for Your Baby Alpaca Jumper

Baby alpaca knitwear needs cleaning far less often than most people think — it has no lanolin, so it holds less dirt and smell, and usually just needs airing. A complete guide to dry cleaning, airi...

The Ultimate Guide to Baby Alpaca Wool

Baby alpaca is a grade, not an age — fleece measuring 18 to 22 microns, warmer than wool, softer to wear than most cashmere, and significantly more durable than either. This guide covers what it is...

Wrapped in Alpaca: My Go-To Winter Look in the Blue Mountains

A founder's note: a winter day in the Blue Mountains, layered in baby alpaca. What I wore, why I reach for it every time, and what it feels like to wear something made this way. — Marcela, founder ...

Why Invest in an Alpaca Coat This Winter?

Naturally warmer than wool, yet incredibly lightweight — our alpaca coats offer breathable warmth without the bulk. Hand-finished in Peru using mostly alpaca and a touch of wool for structure, they...

Baby Alpaca in Winter: What Makes It Different

Baby alpaca is a winter fibre in the best sense — warmer for its weight than standard wool, soft enough for direct skin contact, and durable enough to look good at the end of a full season. Here’s ...

Baby Alpaca and the Highland Families Who Raise It

In the high Andes — in Arequipa and Puno, at altitudes where very little else survives — families raise alpacas. They have done so for over 6,000 years. This is where baby alpaca fibre begins.

How Baby Alpaca Wool Is Harvested

Baby alpaca is a grade — fleece that measures between 18 and 22 microns, identified by hand after shearing. Here is how it gets from the high-altitude farms of the Andes to a finished piece.