Suri and Huacaya: Understanding Alpacas
The defining characteristic of each of these types of alpaca is the fibre that covers them. The huacaya breed often appear more like stuffed animals because of their fluffy wool, which up close displays a curled or crimpled texture.
Although huacaya wool naturally possesses more than 20 different shades, its coarse textures allow its fibres to hold dye well. Thanks to the curls of the wool, this can be easily woven and there are many advantages to this. These qualities make huacaya alpacas more favourable for producing wool that will be used for clothing and other items.
While the commercial utility is lacking in suri alpaca fur, the lustre makes up for it. These alpacas are far rarer -- some estimates say that they make up the equivalent of five per cent of the total number of huacayas. However, their scarcity only makes their fur even more of a find--unlike the coarse fibres of a huacaya, suri alpacas exhibit a longer, smoother strand that is less often used exclusively for clothing and accessories because it is more challenging (and more expensive) to work with. For alpaca farmers, suris may warrant more work because their fur should be kept at no longer than five inches to ensure quality and commercial appeal.
Most times, this kind of alpaca fur has to be blended with more durable huacaya fur or sheep's wool. However, the more suri wool an item contains, the more expensive it is likely to be, placing suri fur near the top of the scale of quality natural fibres. The alpaca types both have advantages and farmers are cross breeding the huacaya and suri in order to have better wool materials that can be marketed a lot better.
When purchasing items made from alpaca fleece, there are several qualities or characteristics that you will want to consider. For example, many consumers prefer 100 per cent raw fibre, which means that the fur has not been washed or processed in any way. If you choose to purchase only raw fibre, you may want to hand wash it gently using a dish detergent, taking care not to wring the material and then air dry the fabric. Another quality to look for when purchasing alpaca fibre is crimp. Most people find that more crimp correlates to fabrics having a softer touch.
When buying, if you use a top brand and vendor, you can find out where the fur was taken from the animal and know the exact source of it. The highest quality fur is usually found on the upper sides or "shoulders" of the animal and also from the torso area. Many people refer to the fibres as the "blanket." As you begin to learn more about alpaca fibres, you will be able to easily spot these qualities and recognise higher quality fabric.
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There are two types of alpaca, and they both have their advantages for use. Click the link to find the fair trade alpaca you want - http://apochetadesigns.com/
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