None Better: Alpaca Rugs Use Alpaca Fibre

By Jack Murdock

Alpacas are beautiful animals that have caused consumers the world over to fall in love at first sight. Your animals will attract a crowd of people who will first want to simply look, but as time goes on they'll ask what exactly these animals are used for. The answer is simple, and you can tell them so. It's all about the alpaca fibre.

Alpaca Fibres

Lots of research and development cash has been blown on the elaboration of alpaca fibres, which are semi hollow, and how to create them synthetically. The reason behind this push? Simple. Alpaca fibres weigh less than a solid core fibre due to the air trapped inside, so the fabric will ultimately warm fast. Ask any outdoorsman, and he'll tell you that hollow core fibres are lightweight and far warmer than the solid core alternative.

Alpaca rugs are made from that same natural alpaca fibres, which creates a fine feel that will outperform most of the synthetic alpaca fibre that's out there. And the best part? No animals have to be killed to continue producing alpaca fibres, which makes the entire industry friendly to the environment.

Staying Dry: Moisture Wicking

Most outdoor shops sport numerous products advertising moisture wicking, but what is it? Moisture absorbing and wicking make up two separate concepts. Sponges will absorb all the water in the world for you -- it takes in moisture and continues to do so until it can't store any more. At this stage, the entire sponge is without doubt wet.

Wicking is completely different. This amazing natural tendency of alpaca fibres actually ferries the moisture away from the source and to the outside, where it will evaporate in time. Cotton and wool absorb like the sponge -- that's why your feet will feel wet if you wear wool socks for an extended period of time. Alpaca fibres, with their wicking feature, provide far better comfort and warmth than any cotton or wool.

Comfy, Soft Skin Friendly

One of the main concerns of those with allergies is the lanolin present in most fabrics. All alpaca products, including alpaca rugs, are lanolin free and there are no chemicals used whatsoever, which helps alpaca rugs feel soft, with no allergic problems even for those with sensitive skin, thanks in no small part to the much smaller scale size in alpaca rugs when compared to wool.

It's simple to discover this on your own. Get a microscope and first examine alpaca fibre. It should appear smooth. Now try looking at wool. The scales are definitely visible now, and that inherent scratchiness that comes with wool products is abundantly obvious. There's no doubt, even at a physical level, that alpaca is far softer and more comfortable than any wool.

Good investments are very important for alpaca breeders. Healthy alpacas are in very high demand these days, which has caused alpaca breeders to try to create a more intensive breeding program that will birth more high quality animals to match standards set over 5000 years ago. The success of this will determine how popular alpaca products -- alpaca rugs, and anything with alpaca fibres -- will become in North America. - 33385

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