The 5 main advantages of alpaca wool as a list:
- antistatic properties
- antibacterial effect, therefore suitable for allergy sufferers
- Durable
- Durable
- Moisture-repellent
The alpaca and the extraction of wool.
Originally the alpaca comes from Peru and belongs to the family of camels. They were domesticated about 3,000 years ago and have long served as a farm animal for the inhabitants of Peru. Even then, the fine wool of the alpacas was appreciated. Even today, 80 of the total alpacas population, or about 3.5 million animals, live in Peru. When the hype about the good-natured animals came to Europe, numerous alpacas were first imported from South America. In the meantime, however, breeding in Europe is so mature that this is no longer necessary.
It is distinguished between two alpaca species, on the one hand there is the Huacaya alpaca, on the other hand the Suri alpaca. The main difference of the two alpaca species is primarily the alpaca wool. While with Suri-Alpaca this is smooth and curly, with the Huacaya alpaca the wool is curled,but above all extremely fine. For this reason, it is very suitable for the production of stockings.
Why is alpaca wool special?
It is the special structure of alpaca wool that makes it so attractive as a fabric for stockings. The individual fibers are hollow inside, which is crucial for the special thermal properties of alpaca wool. In winter, alpaca wool keeps wool pleasantly warm, in summer it does not get unpleasantly sweaty feet due to the good thermoregulation.
The alpaca wool has proven itself in the difficult climatic conditions in the South American for centuries and has been able to prove its practicality in an impressive way.
Alpaca wool is very comfortable to wear.
In addition, alpaca wool is extremely comfortable to wear. Due to the very fine fibers, the stockings lie soft on the skin and, as with other wool products, there is no unpleasant scratchy feeling.
If normal alpaca wool is still not soft enough, can reach for baby alpaca wool. This has even finer fibers and is correspondingly cuddly.
By the way, it is also the look that makes stockings made of alpaca wool so attractive. Alpaca wool has a shine by nature that is not lost even by the dyeing of the wool.
Advantages of stockings made of alpaca wool.
The hollow fibres make stockings made of alpaca wool extremely attractive for both winter and summer.
In winter, they keep their feet warm. While sheep wool socks provide sweaty feet in winter, especially with an increased level of movement, socks made of alpaca wool are able to transport moisture to a certain extent without any problems.
Alpaca wool transports excellent liquids.
If there are sweat feet and the stockings are no longer able to transport this liquid to the outside, the protein molecules contained in the alpaca wool prevent unpleasant odours from developing.
Also very suitable for sensitive people.
At the same time, stockings made of alpaca wool are very resistant and durable due to their properties.
Responsible for the allergy sufferer-friendly property of alpaca wool is the exceptionally low proportion of wool fat. This makes the alpaca wool extremely unattractive for bacteria and ensures that they avoid the wool. This antibacterial property therefore makes the alpaca wool also interesting for diabetics at the same time, as they do not allow inflammatory processes to be overwhelmed by this property.
Care for alpaca wool properly.
In order to enjoy his stockings made of alpaca wool for as long as possible, they must be cared for accordingly. Products made of alpaca wool are robust, tear-resistant and above all durable, but should not be treated like normal garments. As with most wool products, the self-cleaning effect of alpaca wool should be trusted and not to be permanently washed.
Don’t wash too often – self-cleaning
For example, it is sufficient not to wash the stockings after each wear, but to wear them several times before washing them. If you don’t feel comfortable with it or are afraid of smells, you can counteract it by a short air in the fresh air.
If the socks need to be washed, there are three options:
- wash by hand
- in the washing machine
- or in cleaning
Leave cleaning to the professionals
Giving the socks for washing into a professional cleaning seems most sensible in terms of care measures, but is especially expensive for several socks in the long run. Since the care of the socks made of alpaca wool has to be very gentle, however, in case of coarser impurities should rather take care of a cleaning of the stockings.
Putting on your own hand
If the socks are to be washed by hand, the first thing to be taken is not to rubthe socks together, otherwise small nodules can form. The best way to clean it is in warm water and with a suitable wool detergent. The socks are simply soaked in the water together with the detergent and moved slightly in the water. This makes it easy to remove light impurities or odours that have not gone out of the socks by airing. Afterwards, the socks should be rinsed with warm water.
Do not rinse cold
An average temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius is recommended for cleaning. The socks should not be rinsed with cold water, otherwise there may be a cold shock. A cold shock can cause the alpaca wool to matted. Afterwards, the socks should be dried lying down, preferably in the fresh air, after washing they can be carefully expressed with a towel. However, it should be avoided to dry the socks in the blazing sun. A drying process on the heating or in the tumble dryer is generally to be refrained from.
Alpaca wool in the washing machine
In principle, cleaning in the washing machine is also possible without any problems. However, care should be taken to ensure that the socks are washed in the wool wash and not with the normal laundry. Otherwise, the rather coarse wash can cause matting, which is detrimental to the quality of the socks.
Where to go after washing?
The optimal storage of the stockings also counts for the proper care of the alpaca wool. Since moths like alpaca wool very much, this should be taken into account accordingly. Protected from moths, the stockings are best placed in a plastic bag with some lavender or cedar wood.
Alpaca wool as a hiking or trekking sock.
Due to their variety of positive properties, alpaca socks are very suitable as hikingor trekking socks. During sports activities, sweaty feet often occur in other socks, which is prevented by the alpaca wool. Moisture is absorbed by the socks and led outwards, so that the feet in the often heavy hiking or trekking shoes do not get sweaty. In this way, not only the foot is dry, but also the pleasantly high wearing comfort is maintained. This significantly reducesthe risk of bubbles or pressure points.
In addition, for longer hiking tours, if necessary with overnight stay, the socks can simply be ventilated overnight and are ready for use again the next day without any problems.
The stockings made of alpaca wool are not only very comfortable to wear, but also extremely easy to care for.
They are also suitable for every season and can play to their strengths in both winter and snow, as well as in summer at high temperatures.
