Camel hair—often called camel wool—is a specialty animal fiber prized for its warmth, drape, and quiet luxury. Most premium camel hair comes from the Bactrian camel (the two-humped species) of Central and East Asia. These camels grow a dual coat: long, coarse guard hairs that protect the animal from weather, and a much finer, softer undercoat (the “down”) that spinners and weavers value for apparel. The down is typically a natural golden-tan, though it dyes readily much like sheep’s wool. Collection is relatively gentle compared with many other animal fibers. Each spring, Bactrian camels naturally molt, shedding both guard hair and down over a 6–8 week period. Herders gather tufts by hand, comb the animals, or in some cases shear; afterwards, the fiber is washed and “dehaired” to remove the coarse outer fibers so only the soft down remains for fine yarns. Typical annual yield per animal is a few kilograms of hair, of which only a fraction is the prized down, contributing to its relati...
Baby Alpaca Wool: The Jewel of Andean Textiles When people hear the word “baby” in Baby Alpaca Wool, many assume it refers to the age of the animal. But in truth, Baby Alpaca Wool is not always taken from young alpacas—it is a classification of fineness, referring to the softest and most luxurious grade of alpaca fiber. This exquisite fabric, considered one of the world’s most elegant natural fibers, is treasured for its silky texture, gentle warmth, and rarity. It belongs to the family of luxury textiles, standing proudly alongside cashmere, vicuña, and qiviut. Origins: A Fabric Born in the Andes The story of Baby Alpaca Wool begins high in the Andean mountains of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, where alpacas have been domesticated for thousands of years. These camelids, close relatives of llamas and vicuñas, have been central to Andean culture since Incan times. The Incas regarded alpaca fibers as a divine gift, reserved only for royalty and nobility. They called it the "Fiber of th...