Put down that cashmere

Cashmere has taken over the fashion industry as a high-end, luxurious and soft material ideal for sweaters, scarves and any other warm apparel. Despite its popularity, cashmere has some major flaws, specifically related to cost and its negative effects on the environment. Alpaca, on the other hand, is just starting to take notice in the fashion world, but it’s a trend that we think everyone should get on board with.

For one, alpaca is much better for the environment than cashmere. Cashmere is environmentally catastrophic – Grasslands in China and Mongolia can’t support the demand for cashmere, and are consequently experiencing over grazing by the goats that create cashmere. Additionally, the goats’ sharp hooves and eating habits destroy topsoil and grasses. On the other hand, the environmental footprint of an alpaca is far lighter – they have soft, padded feet and graze without destroying the root systems. Alpaca also drink less water than goats and grow at least 12x the amount of fiber as goats.

Second, purchasing alpaca from the right sources can help to support underdeveloped and developing villages in Peru. 3.5 million alpacas come from Peru, approximately 80% of the world’s entire population of alpaca. At least 50,000 families in the Andean highlands rely on herding alpaca for income and to sustain themselves. Consequently, investing in alpaca has the power to help the country’s indigenous populations who often suffer from poverty. For example, Martin Chipan, a 45-year-old herdsman, used to live in a meager one-room stone hut that was barely tall enough to stand up in. Inca Tops, one of Peru’s largest sellers of alpaca, worked with Martin to teach him how to sustainably and ethically raise alpaca in order to ensure the best fibers and combat his extreme poverty. Now Martin lives in a home with solar energy, running water, and a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and greenhouse.

While we recognize the importance for fashion that does good, and therefore makes you feel good, we also recognize that fashion most importantly needs to look good. Fortunately, alpaca is of similar softness to cashmere, warmer and more durable than cashmere. Meanwhile, alpaca costs less than cashmere. While cashmere has gotten cheaper since making the leap from luxury to mainstream in the 1990s, the quality has declined with the price due to cross-breading of goats, and it is still more expensive than alpaca. Like cashmere, alpaca looks and feels luxurious and is more durable.

For all these reasons, we have noticed alpaca apparel popping up in the fashion lines of major brands (more to come on that later…). Be on the lookout for an alpaca sweater, scarf or hat this winter, and feel it for yourself. We think you’ll agree that it’s a fabric you’ll want to introduce into your wardrobe.

A brief overview of our business plan

3.5 million alpaca live in Peru – 80% of the world’s population – and 50,000 families in the Andean highlands make a living off of herding alpaca. Unfortunately, many of these families are living in extreme poverty. Our business idea is to work with nonprofits that support sustainable and ethical practices within these villages to import the alpaca yarn to the US and then convert the yarn into scarves to be sold here in the US. We believe this fills a gap in the marketplace between cheap cotton or itchy wool scarves and expensive cashmere scarves. As a comparison, cashmere scarves run upwards of $100-$200 dollars, whereas most alpaca scarves are currently on the market for $50-$60. Additionally, alpaca is just as soft as cashmere and even more durable, making it a perfect alternative.

A weaver from a village in the Andean highlands in traditional Peruvian clothing.

Simultaneously, through our business plan, we hope to better the lives of alpaca farmers in Peru by paying them higher wages, supporting efforts to improve the efficiency of their farming methods and giving a portion of proceeds back to their school’s, children and overall needs.