Nathalie H from the U.K. writes...
Alpaca fibre seems to tick all the right boxes.
1. It is animal friendly, and cruelty free, as the animal is not killed, so appeals to vegetarians like me.
(Merino sheep in Australia are subjected to a hideous practice called mulesing, which people do not realise is going on, and people think that lambswool in the UK simply involves a haircut, but in reality, the animal has to be slaughtered very young for its meat, as the fleece on its own is almost worthless, as it just can not compete with cotton, & synthetics. That is why I like alpaca, because its fibre is highly valued in the marketplace.
2. It is also earth-friendly, because like you say so little industrial detergents are needed, as there is no lanolin. And it is biodegradeable of course, unlike sythetics.
For me, a perfect garment would also involve eco-friendly dyes, which unfortunately is still in its infancy.
Nathalie's comments highlight one of the strongest growing trends in eco-shopping, a desire to purchase fashions which not only look good but are good. PurelyAlpaca strives to use suppliers which follow fair trade principles, do not harm animals and reduce pollution to the environment.
Alpaca is naturally Earth-friendly due to its very nature. It has the added natural benefit of being washable in mild soap (instead of harsh polluting chemicals).
PurelyAlpaca regularly seeks products from vendors that work with small groups on indigenous peoples who earn their livelihood entirely from alpacas.
In my opinion, Alpacas, perhaps the world's oldest domestic livestock is poised to be the natural, non-polluting, eco-friendly clothing fashion material of this new century.
-Brian, PurelyAlpaca
