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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Now Trending: Winter White
The other day I was perusing through a post-holiday sale section when an overheard comment managed to stop me in my tracks. "These white jeans are so crazy cheap, I might buy them for next summer!" The girl and her friend proceeded to lament about how despite the jeans' tempting price tag, it would be better to purchase something they could wear right away. Even though this was a conversation between random strangers, I had so much trouble holding my tongue! I desperately wanted to interject, "S
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Embrace the Fur Look With Friendly Alpaca Fur
I absolutely love the luxurious look of fur and the warmth it provides, but especially as an animal-lover, I'm often afraid to admit it, let alone buy it. Personally, I was thrilled to discover that Friendly Alpaca Fur provides a way to enjoy all the wonderful benefits of real fur without the guilty conscience. Friendly Alpaca Fur means that alpacas are never harmed to gain their fur or pelt. Alpacas are most valuable when they are alive and healthy, providing the soft fleece they are known for.
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Attention All Dog Lovers!
We at Sun Valley Alpaca Co. are major dog lovers! Trust me when I say that, we are obsessed. I seriously am in danger of following more dogs on Instagram than humans-- and I'm not even ashamed! They're cuter and more lovable than most humans anyway. Around this time of year, I always enjoy seeing dogs out on the town making a fashion statement. Are you really surprised that I'm a big fan of the dog sweater? Stumbling across these photos on Pinterest made me realize that matching your outfi
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Experience Alpaca: Fab Finds Under $50
Alpaca is totally the new cashmere. People who had never given alpaca a thought just a year ago are noticing its growing popularity, as the fiber starts popping up on more and more fabric content labels. Most of these products reveal just small percentages of alpaca, but demonstrate designers' and retailers' desire to advertise alpaca content and include the word in their product names. This practice mimics the fashion industry's love affair with cashmere in past decades, with sweaters and ac
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Sweaters: Now Bigger and Better Than Ever
With all the talk about spring trends surrounding the current Fashion Week season, it's easy to forget that we're about to enter Fall. We think it's time to shift our focus to fall trends! And this year we at Sun Valley Alpaca Co. are especially excited for our favorite season because everyone is talking about piling on the knits. This fall and winter, sweaters are going to be BIG, literally. If you don't take our word for it, check out this recent article in the Wall Street Journal.Earlier
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Pure Alpaca Guarantee
When we make the choice to invest in a product, we expect it to be "the real deal." Everyone has experienced the disappointment at one time or another of looking at the label of your "cashmere sweater" to find that it only contains 10% cashmere, or discovering that your fancy, organic apple juice has more sugar in it than apples.When you purchase alpaca products through Sun Valley Alpaca Co., rest assured that you are investing in the finest quality alpaca, guaranteed. We certify that all of our
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Get The Look: Olivia Palermo Goes Comfy Casual
1. Sweater- Mission Cocoon Alpaca Pullover / 2. Denim- J Brand Jake low-rise slim boyfriend jeans / 3. Sunglasses- Prada 53 mm Triangle logo Sunglasses / 4. Cuff bangle- Vince Camuto 'Viva la Vince' V Cutout Hinge Bangle / 5. Nail polish- Yves Saint Laurent Nail Lacquer in "Rouge Pop Art" / 6. Shoes- Lucky Brand 'Emmie' FlatEven fashionistas like to be comfortable on the weekends. Often we put so much thought into assembling an outfit, but it's important t
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Redefining Sweater Weather
August is a funny month, isn't it? Many kids are already heading back to school and with my summer getaways behind me, I find myself anticipating fall, dreaming of autumn leaves and trips to the pumpkin patch. Yet let's not kid ourselves-- we still have a good couple months of summer weather ahead! Rather than jumping ahead prematurely to the next season, why not enjoy the unique season of transition that's upon us?Let's talk about summer dressing. Most of us first associate knits with cold weat
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The Wool Boycott- What Are Your Options?
Do you know where your clothing comes from? Sadly, the majority of clothes being sold today originate in places that create deplorable conditions not only for workers, but also for animals. Like many of you, I care deeply about human rights and ethical treatment of animals. But to be honest, I often find myself frustrated with how challenging and time-consuming it is to find products that support my beliefs. It's so tempting to just give up and buy what's easy.Recently, while browsing the Facebo
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Wedding Season + Pashminas = A Natural Fit
When looking for the perfect gift for your bridesmaids, why not end your search with pashminas? They'll keep your girls warm when the evening gets chilly, provide an extra pop of color in wedding photos, and unlike many bridesmaid gifts, they remain useful post-wedding. Every time your friends reach for their pashmina when they're heading for a special evening out or packing for a tropical vacation, they'll remember you and your special day! For an extra sweet touch, you can also have the
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Top 10 Reasons Why Alpaca Wins
If there were a hypothetical contest between all the fibers and fabrics in the world, we feel 100% confident that alpaca would win by a mile. Let's say that the contest is broken up into multiple events, in order to give every contender a fair chance-- alpaca still wins, in every category. Alpaca is the strongest fiber known to man; it's softer than cashmere, smoother than silk, stronger than mohair, lighter and warmer than wool, and better-breathing than thermal knits. Despite being fash
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Why You Need To Follow Our New Alpaca Fashion Blog
“Eagle-eyed buyers and editors may notice a curious uptick in the use of alpaca – a mohair-like material usually associated with momish twinsets – on the runways this season,” explained a recent article entitled "Why You'll Be Seeing Lots of Alpaca on the Runway This Fashion Week" on Fashionista.com. When we at Sun Valley Alpaca Co. ran across this piece, we felt both enthusiastic that the fashion industry is finally coming around and struck by the sadly inaccurate representation of
