03 Jan 2019
All of the fleece used in our Signature and Minta Collections is sourced from alpaca farms here in the UK. This wonderful material is both sustainable and luxurious and has a long list of other qualities that make it a truly special fibre.
Alpaca fibre is the only luxury fibre that can be grown here in Britain, making it the perfect sustainable luxury material to use in our Signature and Minta Collections.
Although originally from Peru, there is a growing population of around 35,000 alpacas in Britain. Distributed across small farms throughout Scotland, England and Wales, these animals are raised by breeders and passionate alpaca enthusiasts and are often treated more like pets than livestock.
Checking the crimp and length of staple of an alpaca fleece.
We work with these small-scale producers to ethically source the raw alpaca fleece for our products. A happy alpaca produces the strongest and most lustrous fleece, and we want to know that the animals involved in making our products have been well looked after. Sourcing from within the UK means we have built relationships with the breeders we buy from, and can identify the farm and sometimes even the name of the alpaca that a fleece came from.
Although most alpaca wool initially feels soft, there is a large variation between good quality and bad quality alpaca fibre. Only the finest alpaca fleece is spun into yarn for our products, which makes such a difference to the luxurious finish and handle of a piece.
When selecting our fleece we look for a combination of qualities. Firstly the length of staple (fibre length) as this has a huge effect on the spinning process, as well as a low micron count (rating of how fine or coarse a fibre is). Then we consider the crimp, (natural curl) lustre (shine), and the quality of its natural colour.
Some of the amazing natural colours produced by the alpacas.
Alpacas grow fleece in 5 main natural colours: white, fawn, grey, brown and black, however combinations of these often occur within the same fleece, giving rise to 22 officially recognised colours. Within these 22 colours there is still even more variation as each alpaca will produce a subtly different shade, sometimes changing with their different life stages or diet! The fibres used in our Signature and Minta collections are un-dyed, celebrating the amazing depth and range of natural colour available in alpaca wool.
Alpaca fleece is know as a ‘dry fibre’ as alpacas do not produce any lanolin or animal grease in their wool. This means that it can be worn by people who are usually allergic to wool, as it is commonly the lanolin in sheep’s wool that irritates the skin. This also makes the production of alpaca items more environmentally friendly as they do not need harsh scouring to remove residual oils in the fibre.
Alpaca is one of the warmest natural fibres in the world and is 30% more insulating than merino. This is due to it’s hollow structure, which traps air and keeps you cosy without feeling hot or heavy. It is also great at wicking away moisture to help maintain an even temperature.
Alpacas are a species of South American camelid that were domesticated by the ancient Incas over 6,000 years ago. Closely related to lamas, alpacas were bred to produce soft fleeces wheras lamas were bred to help with carrying supplies.
Three alpacas named Caspar, Calvin and Balthazar
Aside from the amazing qualities of their fleece, Alpacas themselves are very endearing animals. They each have very distinct personalities and are given names by their breeders. We love hearing that a particular fleece came from an alpaca called Armani or Bathsheba and can only begin to imagine the unique personality of the alpaca it belongs to!
Alpacas are sheared once a year between April and June, to remove their warm fleece in time for the summer months. If you want to see more of the shearing process check out our blog post; an alpaca farm on shearing day.
A Suri alpaca (front) has a silky fleece and Huyacaya alpaca (behind) has a fluffy looking fleece.
Although most people don’t realise, there are actually two types of alpaca: Suri and Huacaya.
Huacaya are the more common, fluffy-looking alpacas. The Huacaya alpaca is sheared once a year, producing on average 2-4kg of fibre, with some exceptional animals producing as much as 5-7 kg.
Only about 5% of alpacas in the UK and worldwide are Suri, and their fleece is of a finer, silk like quality. The Suri is a slower growing fibre with the animals being sheared every 2 years, the fibre is much heavier and one animal can produce on average 4-8kg per fleece.
An alpaca mother with her baby
Female alpacas are known as ‘dams’ and their babies are ‘cria’. They have one of the longest gestation periods for a mammal of their size: 11 – 12 months! If there is danger or the mother is under stress they are even able to suspend giving birth until the situation is safe.
We hope you have enjoyed learning a little about the fascinating creatures, if you would like to find out more we recommend cehcking out the website of the British Alpaca Society.
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We are guardians of people’s stories...
We ourselves are stories that weave and take shape through the thread, thanks to the gentle hands of the weavers.
The yarn, the loom, our and your stories, are the tools we have chosen to make what cannot be seen or touched, real and wearable. We give shape to the values in which we believe, we give voice to stories to be shared with those dearest to us, forever.
Not just exquisite works of art to wear, but ambassadors, ‘talking’ objects, timeless storytellers of meanings and values that we want to preserve and pass on.
Meet Isabelle, one of our talented handweavers!
Isabelle has long had an interest in textiles, ever since her grandmother taught her to sew.
She discovered weaving when visiting universities before applying to study. Immediately captivated by the woven textile displays at Loughborough University – the home of our George Wood looms – She became fascinated by how these complex woven structures could be created from just a few cones of yarn.
Isabelle enjoys the slow, hands-on process of weaving, appreciating how it demands your full and present focus, and is always excited to share the complexities of handweaving to our visitors.
Meet Helen, one of our talented handweavers!
As an advocate for sustainability and ethical production, handweaving appealed to Helen as the embodiment of slow, responsible craft.
She fell in love with the challenging yet meditative weave process during her textile degree at the Glasgow School of Art.
Helen adores that she can name the alpacas in the pieces that she weaves, as this level of provenance imbues the pieces with deeper meaning for both weaver and future owner.
We choose 100% undyed British alpaca fiber for our designs because it embodies the values we hold dear: sustainability, durability, and unparalleled luxury. Each fleece is sourced from carefully chosen UK farms where animal welfare is a top priority.
Our close relationships with breeders enable us to trace many of our yarns back to the individual alpacas, ensuring exceptional quality and transparency. The alpaca’s fleeces are left undyed, allowing the natural richness and unique tones of their coats to shine through in every piece.
In the UK, only 5–10% of alpacas produce fleece of the exceptional quality we require. Every fiber is meticulously selected for its fineness, crimp, luster, and colour, ensuring our pieces meet the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
It can take our handweavers anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks to complete one of our Signature pieces.
Each piece in our Heritage handwoven collection has been inspired by Araminta’s deep love for the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape.
From the golden glow of the beech woodlands surrounding her family home in the Royal Deeside Corridor during autumn, to the ethereal light of the Scottish Highlands at dawn and dusk, the landscape is a constant source of inspiration for Araminta. The shifting interplay of colours, textures, and natural rhythms informs each handwoven piece, translating fleeting moments into timeless design.
Any moment in time could become Araminta’s next creation.
Meet Lisa, one of our talented handweavers!
Lisa studied weaving at Heriot Watt University, in the borders of Scotland – an area renowned for its textile production.
She always enjoyed creating things and was recommended to study textiles by her art teacher. When first starting out in her weave degree, she found the slow process of setting up challenging, yet today it’s her favourite part.
She finds peace whilst threading the loom, enjoying and embracing the flow.
Each piece has been lovingly handwoven and finished in our Edinburgh Atelier by our team of handweavers on vintage George Wood looms.
Araminta Campbell is one of the largest employers of handweavers in Scotland, fostering employment for talented craftspeople in Scotland plays a vital role in preserving the rich legacy of Scottish textile craftsmanship. Every thread woven in the Atelier carries with it the heritage and passion of centuries-old traditions, brought vividly to life through contemporary designs, and the work of our talented weavers.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
When you choose one of our handwoven treasures, you’re not just owning a piece of Scotland’s rich textile heritage – you’re connecting with the hands that brought it to life.
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