Why are our Alpaca Shawls the best money can buy?
The best and most expensive hair is cut before the first year of the animal, from the front of the neck, this is called ROYAL ALPACA.
The second best is the hair cut between the first and second year of the animal, again taken from the front of the neck only, this is called BABY ALPACA. This is the wool used used in our Handmade 100% BABY ALPACA shawls and scarfs.
The next cuts between the second and fifth years of the animal and again from the front of the neck are called SUPERFINE ALPACA (This wool is not as soft as our baby alpaca).
After these superior quality wools comes ALPACA ADULT (rough hair, not as soft or thin) this is the wool used in mass produced, machine made alpaca products widely available in high street stores or on the internet.
Alpaca`s come from two families, the SURIS and the HUAYNACU, the SURIS are the high class ones. Therefore, if you have a Royal Suri Alpaca you have heaven in your hands. The same goes for Baby Suri Alpaca which is far superior to Baby Huaynacu Alpaca even though they come from the same part of the front neck and the hair is cut between the first and second year of the animal. We at Pashmina Shawls only sell SURI Alpacas.