alpaca

anybody ever had, seen, alpaca pants? I was thinking of getting a sport coat made in Alpaca, and then I was thinking "why not a suit?" but I don't know how it would stand up as pants. anybody know?

Alpaca suits were reasonably common tropical wear once. And the stuff was used as linings as well. I've been looking for it unsuccessfully for a couple of years - if you find some let me know.

Originally Posted by Will

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Alpaca suits were reasonably common tropical wear once. And the stuff was used as linings as well. I've been looking for it unsuccessfully for a couple of years - if you find some let me know.
Tropical wear? Is it even possible to make lightweight material from alpaca?

Originally Posted by Will

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Alpaca suits were reasonably common tropical wear once. And the stuff was used as linings as well. I've been looking for it unsuccessfully for a couple of years - if you find some let me know.

I have a source for some very nice royal baby alpaca. I might be in position for a trade.......

Alpaca is hoooooot.

Originally Posted by Manton

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Alpaca is hoooooot.

I had intended it for an overcoat, myself. but I was thinking that it would be cool for a cold weather suit.

like I said - the big question that I had would be if it would hold out in the pants. any input oh wise one?

Originally Posted by Manton

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Alpaca is hoooooot.

+1

This is why will's comment threw me off.

Originally Posted by Will

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Alpaca suits were reasonably common tropical wear once. And the stuff was used as linings as well. I've been looking for it unsuccessfully for a couple of years - if you find some let me know.

IIRC, Alpaca is the warmest natural fibre.

Originally Posted by Manton

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Alpaca is hoooooot.

+2. I have a winter jacket with alpaca lining (not too thick) and it wears *very* warm.

Alpaca is sort of like camel's hair? Long fibers? If you had a whole suit made from it, would you look like a bunny rabbit? I'm getting a Donnie Darko vibe here.

Alpaca is finer than mohair but not as fine as a camel's hair. It's warm without a lot of weight and it repels water. Available only in natural colors or dyed a darker shade...

I have a friend that has an alpaca farm. They make lots of sweaters and socks from the alpaca's fur.

I have not seen any worsted alpaca that was not a jacketing. I can't imagine it holding out as pants. You read about things like this from the '30s but it must have been for people who could treat certain items as disposable. Old magazines talk about Sheltand suits, which I also can't imagine.

I went to a fair last fall and saw a real, live alpaca. Nearby was a real, live llama. They looked similar except one was a lot taller. Are fabrics made from llama wool too?

Originally Posted by Manton

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I have not seen any worsted alpaca that was not a jacketing. I can't imagine it holding out as pants. You read about things like this from the '30s but it must have been for people who could treat certain items as disposable. Old magazines talk about Sheltand suits, which I also can't imagine.

yeah, that is what I thought. oh, well

Originally Posted by Manton

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I have not seen any worsted alpaca that was not a jacketing. I can't imagine it holding out as pants. You read about things like this from the '30s but it must have been for people who could treat certain items as disposable. Old magazines talk about Sheltand suits, which I also can't imagine.
+1 According to a fabric reference that I have, it's mainly used to make lightweight coats, suits, dresses and sportswear. I've only ever seen it as sportswear - sweaters and socks and never as a suit or pants. That would be like having a camel's hair or cashmere suit. Legally, however, it can be labeled as wool. It's probably mixed with wool sometimes (just a guess).

Originally Posted by Peak and Pine

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I went to a fair last fall and saw a real, live alpaca. Nearby was a real, live llama. They looked similar except one was a lot taller. Are fabrics made from llama wool too?
Llama wool isn't as strong as alpaca and it has some very coarse, brittle hairs called kemp which makes it less valuable. Alpacas are technically camels - or, they come from the camel family called lamoid. There are several similar animals from the lamoid family that live in the Andes of South America: vicuna - extremely expensive wool, twice as fine as finest merino. vicuna - paco - vicuna father and alpaca mother. Very rare. guanoquito - young guanaco - llama and alpaca are believed to be direct descendants of the guanaco. huacaya - also called bacaya huahua - a young llama huarizo - has a llama father and alpaca mother paco-llama or misti - alpaca father and llama mother suri - type of alpaca - has finer, lustrous, thicker fleece which is about 2' long and hangs to the ground reference for info about wool fabrics

Originally Posted by Peak and Pine

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I went to a fair last fall and saw a real, live alpaca. Nearby was a real, live llama. They looked similar except one was a lot taller. Are fabrics made from llama wool too?
No; I think it's too course or something.