The Alpaca Journal
Fiber guides, care routines and gift ideas from Sun Valley Alpaca Co., one of three U.S. retailers licensed by the International Alpaca Association.
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Magical Alpaca - Bewitch With A Comfort Spell!
Magical Alpaca Socks - No need to soak your feet in a boiling cauldron, instead, why not nestle your feet in soft alpaca wool and get a warmth that you’ll feel to the bone? Alpaca socks have magical properties, well, they seem like magic… not only do they warm feet they protect them too! The silky non-irritating fibers glide softly over feet, reducing callus build up, eliminating blisters all while keeping feet cozy. Alpaca wicks away foot moisture, reduces odor, eliminates bacteria and aids in
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How To Find The Perfect Alpaca Throw For Your Space
Decorating with timeless and classic alpaca throw blankets, from Farmhouse to Mid Century and Modern - find the perfect alpaca throw for your space.Alpaca throws are some of the most luxurious blankets you will ever want to snuggle under, but just what makes them that way?Alpaca fleece is exceptionally light, downy soft, and silky - it just feels better than other textiles. Each fiber is 1/5 the width of a human hair, but tucked inside that minuscule strand are pockets of air which act as nature
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How to Stay Warm in Even the Coldest Weather - Solutions for Hunters, Outdoor Enthusiasts & Sportsman
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, hunter, sportsman, fisherman, we know you can’t wait to get outside and a little thing like weather won’t ever stop you. But why should you be uncomfortable when the weather turns cold? While the hunting can be outstanding, low temperatures and periods of exertion followed by waiting really increase the odds of getting cold and taking the enjoyment out of your experiences. We’ve got your solution for keeping hunters and sportsmen warm out in the wild.It all begin
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Warrior Alpaca Socks - 16 Days Hiking & Rafting on the Colorado River
Here is the account by one of our friends - Jack B on his experience with Warrior Alpaca socks. Years ago a group of my long time friends planned a self guided rafting trip. Last year we got our date, however with the pandemic we were’t sure it was going to happen. I was fortunate enough to be one of the first groups allowed back in the Grand Canyon Park this year. Packing for the trip was a challenge due to the duration and the lightness of which I had to pack. I knew from the start my W
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Alpaca Teddy Bears Are Here for You During Coronavirus, and They’re Not Just for Kids!
While most articles I have been reading these past couple of months cut straight to the chase on flattening the curve on Coronavirus, my interest peaked seeing an article on how Teddy Bears Are Here For Your Kids During Coronavirus. Use Them.While reading, it reminded of a joint venture I was blessed to partake in a few years ago with Citizens Bank in Pittsburgh PA; donating 25 alpaca teddy bears to patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.Assisted living facilities can be a lonely place,
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Responding to Coronavirus
We’re very grateful to be one of the lucky companies to (so far) not come into any COVID-19 contact. The fact that all of our employees are healthy is a comfort during this crisis. We hope to provide you with a bit of that comfort as well. It is with this in mind that I wanted to reach out to you personally.It is rather ironic that during this period of isolation and social distancing, I happened to receive my DNA ancestry report back. Unfortunately, there won’t be any traveling to my newly disc
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How to Choose an Alpaca Blanket: Grades, Fringe & Where to Use It
Shopping now? The full collection is at Alpaca Blankets — 25 styles, 165 colorways. For sizing, see bed blankets (twin–king) and throws. Everyone likes to feel safe and comforted. Being wrapped in a cozy blanket is often one of our earliest childhood memories. You can get — and give — that warm feeling every day with blankets and throws made from super-soft, durable, all natural alpaca (plus other perks of alpaca).Did you know? NATURAL ALPACA WOOL, IS AN ELEGANT GIFT FROM THE HIGH ATOP THE
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Our Warmest Alpaca Socks
The alpaca is an animal revered for its fantastically thermal and super soft wool. Feel the difference that alpaca wool can make in your wardrobe, beginning with socks. Our Alpaca socks are made to be durable and cozy, and the natural properties of the alpaca wool make them healthy and warm too. Your toes will be happy you chose one of our great pairs of warm alpaca socks. A relative to the llama, these hardy animals thrive in mountainous climates of South America. The fur or wool they gr
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10 Ways to Stay Warm in (Sustainable, Super-Cozy) Alpaca
Reprinted courtesy of VOGUE January 02, 2018If you were in the continental U.S. this holiday, all of the beach selfies you flipped through on Instagram probably induced a little more envy than usual. We experienced record lows across the country, with wind chills dipping below zero here on the East Coast and the northern plains. Despite what felt like weeks of being cooped up indoors, this cold snap isn’t going away anytime soon—in fact, we’re expecting a blizzard later this week. So if you’ve b
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So Many Reasons to Wear White After Labor Day
There's a growing list of fashion rules that have become increasing irrelevant over the years, like "your shoes have to match your bag," "no black with brown or navy," "no black at a wedding," and most notably "no white after Labor Day." Some people from older generations or from more traditional parts of the country still adhere to these rules religiously, but most have realized that they're not only outdated, but kind of silly. During the fall and winter months, people tend to gravitate t
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Fashion Revolution: "We Made Your Clothes!"
On April 24, 2013, the Rana Complex, a garment factory located in Dhaka, Bangladesh tragically collapsed, killing 1,134 people and injuring over 2,500. This event forced people to look at the global fashion industry's often exploitative, unsustainable practices and consider that there has to be a better way! Though we believe that radical change is needed in the industry, at Sun Valley Alpaca Co. we're proud to already be able to guarantee our customers products that are naturally organic,
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Knitwear 101: History of the Aran Sweater
When one thinks of the word “sweater” or “knitwear,” one of the first images that comes to mind is a classic Aran knit sweater. Also known as a “fisherman's sweater” or an “Irish sweater,” it's a style that has truly stood the test of time. The Aran sweater (or Aran jumper, as it's called on the other side of the Atlantic), gets its name from the Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland. A traditional Aran sweater is usually cream in color, the shade of 100% natural, unwashed
