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Alpaca VS Wool
Alpaca VS Wool
How does alpaca compare to Merino wool?
Contrary to what most people believe, alpaca is softer on skin than most wool fibers.
Have you ever tried on a wool sweater and felt so itchy that you had to take it off almost immediately? How about an alpaca sweater? The truth is a garment's itchiness can also be unique to each individual person and their reaction to wearing that garment.More importantly, it is the quality of the fiber used that decides whether a garment is itchy or not. Alpaca has one of the softest natural fleeces on the planet and this also remains true for its processed fiber. Alapca fiber just isn't itchy in most circumstances. Read more below to learn why.
There are three key factors that determine how itchy a wool feels on your skin :
1. The lanolin content
2. The fiber diameter
3. The fiber smoothness
1. Lanolin Content
Lanolin is a type of wax or grease that is naturally occuring in sheep, produced by their sebaceous glands. It works as a protective barrier and a moisturizer. Used in some skin care products, it also can cause skin allergies for others.
Alpaca fiber is similar to sheep's except that alpacas produce zero to tiny amounts of lanolin. This makes alpaca fiber less prickly than wool and also makes it hypoallergenic. Alpacas don't produce lanolin as their fiber is naturally resistive to moisture while also fending off bacteria and dust. The alpaca has a very fine and light fleece. Alpaca fiber does not retain water, and is a thermal insulator even when wet. It also can resist solar UV rays effectively. The characteristics found in an alpaca's fleece ensure a permanent and appropriate coat to protect it against extreme weather changes. When knitted into garments, alpaca fiber offers the same protective benefits to humans.
2.Fiber Diameter (Microns)
A fibers quality and softness is determined by its diameter. The thicker the fiber is, the higher the micron count and the more itchy it feels on human skin. As a thread's diameter decreases, so does the micron meaning lower microns = softer feel. Most alpaca fiber used for knitting garments comes in or below 25 microns making it comfortable and soft.
Alpaca and wool both come in different diameters which means that not all fiber feels the same. Just like merino wool is softer than lambswool or pure sheep's wool, royal and baby alpaca wool are softer than superfine or huarizo alpaca fibers. Royal alpaca fiber is the finest at below 20 microns while Baby alpaca at (20-22 microns) still feels ultra soft against the skin and doesn't cause itchiness or discomfort.
3.Fiber Smoothness
Wool fibers have microscopic scales which protrude from the surface of the fiber, creating a prickly feeling. The smaller and flatter the scales, the smoother the fiber. The scales on alpaca fibers are small and sit flat against the surface of the fiber, meaning alpaca wool doesn't cause a prickly sensation. Merino wool has larger overlapping scales that can cause some itchiness.
Sheep wool has very prominent scales and is coated in lanolin. Further – excluding merino – sheep fibers tend to be on the coarser end of the spectrum. All this leads to that characteristic wooly jumper itch. However, merino wool used in outdoor clothing tends to be very fine (around 19-20 microns in diameter) and has usually been treated to remove the lanolin and fiber scales, so it feels much softer and less itchy than other types of sheep’s wool. But alpaca wool doesn’t need any special treatment: it’s naturally super soft and even less itchy.
At Inca Royal Knitwear we use the finest Royal Alpaca Wool sourced in the Peruvian Andes. The Andean alpacas naturally developed over thousands of years in harsh conditions in high altitudes, creating the perfect fiber for outdoor gear that helps you stay protected in all conditions.
