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Peru

Splendor and continuity of the textile arts.

Peru has a rich 5000-year-old textile heritage to share with the world: a heritage whose journey through time has seen the most ancient cultures and the glory of the Inca Empire. Two very important items of this legacy are the alpaca and the vicuña, animals bred and protected with a specific purpose: to produce some of the world’s finest and strongest fibers

We Peruvians acknowledge our history, and there exists a trait which we all share: creativity. This has come to be considered a typical characteristic for everything produced in Peru; alpaca fiber has been introduced to the fashion industry, and this constitutes the best of reasons to show ourselves to the world.

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Vicuña

The finest natural fiber

This beautiful animal belongs to the family of the South American camelids, which inhabit the Andes; approximately 80% of the population of these wild animals live in Peru.

Vicuña hair has been catalogued as the world’s finest animal fiber, on account of its extremely soft feel and luxurious appearance. Furthermore, it has played a major role in human society since the time of the Incas, who considered the animal sacred, and its fiber was used to clothe royalty. Admiration for the vicuña persists to this day, a fact clearly reflected in the shearing process for which ancient traditional rituals and techniques are employed so as not to harm the animals in any way

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Alpaca

Known as the treasure of the Andes

Peru is the country with the largest population of alpacas. There are two varieties: huacaya and suri, both of which are considered to be domesticated descendants of the vicuña. These animals, accustomed to extreme temperatures, inhabit a geographical zone cut between mountains at altitudes up to 5000 meters (16400 feet) above sea level.

The species was domesticated by pre-Inca cultures and came to play a vital role during the time of the Inca Empire. The raising of alpacas specifically at that time was crucial to the existence of this magnificent, highly esteemed fiber. Alpaca fiber is obtained by shearing every so often; this constitutes a special and solemn occasion where the animals are herded together and their fleeces cut, an operation that causes the animals no pain or suffering. Observing this process is a memorable experience and a part of the story of care and respect behind the production of the garments with which Textialpaca dresses its customers.