There are four groups of South American camelids, each with its own unique characteristics, that contribute fibers to the rich tradition of Peruvian textiles. They are the Alpaca, the Llama, the Guanaco and the Vicuna.
The smallest and rarest of the South American camelids is the Vicuña. Its hair is considered the finest animal fiber in the world. Historical chronicles indicate that Vicuña textiles were reserved for Inca royalty. Because of the quest for its highly coveted luxurious fiber, the Vicuña was driven nearly to extinction by the 1960s. Various conservation programs have ensured the survival of the Vicuña, and this wonderful fiber is once again available to the textile industry.
Approximately 80% of the 150,000 Vicuñas in South America inhabit Peru.
The Guanaco, like the Vicuña, is a wild camelid that lives in big groups of males or small bands of females led by a dominant male. There are approximately 600,000 Guanacos in South America and about 80% of them are found in Patagonia, Argentina. The extremely high quality of Guanaco fiber can be discerned simply by touch. Characteristically, its fiber is a reddish shade. Guanacos are the only South American camelids that adapt easily to different environments. They can live either at sea level or in the Andes at altitudes of more than 4,600 meters (more than 15,000 feet).
The Alpaca is indigenous to the Peruvian highlands. There are an estimated four million Alpacas in South America, about 95% of which live in the central and southern regions of Peru. Alpacas thrive at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to more than 4,500 meters (about 10,000 to 15,000 feet) above sea level in temperatures that may range from 20 to 30 degrees Centigrade in a single day. There are two Alpaca types: Huacayo, the predominant Alpaca type known by its fine and bulky fleece, which offers the widest range of natural shades; and Suri, the least predominant Alpaca type known by its long, curly, shiny and silky fibre.
The Llama is the heaviest and largest South American camelid. Its long legs as well as its prominent and crooked ears distinguish the llama from the other camelids. Llamas have been domesticated and used as beasts of burden since Pre-Incan times. Even today, Llamas are part of the many customs and religious rituals of the Andean people. Llama hair is coarser than alpaca hair. However, if dehaired, it can be as soft as alpaca. Some 65% of the world's Llamas live in the high plateau region of Bolivia.
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Thank you to Michell and Kuna by Alpaca 111 for information provided on this page.
