3Feb/110

Early Days: La Vicuna

blog

LLamas greeted people as they strolled into our store-

Almost thirty years ago!

Stay Warm,

Luis and Veronica.

Owners, AlpaLuxe.

21Jan/110

FINEST ALPACA, BABY ALPACA AND ROYAL ALPACA

ALPACA FIBER

Alpaca fleece is the natural fiber harvested from an alpaca. It is light weight or heavy weight, depending on how it is spun. It is soft, durable, luxurious and silky natural fiber. While similar to sheep’s wool, it is warmer, not prickly, and has no lanolin which makes it hypoallergenic. Alpaca is naturally water-repellent and difficult to ignite. Huacaya, an alpaca that grows soft spongy fiber has natural crimp, thus making a naturally elastic yarn well-suited for knitting. Suri has far less crimp and thus is a better fit for woven goods. The designer Armani has used Suri alpaca to fashion Men's and Women's suits. Alpaca fleece is made into various products, from very simple and inexpensive garments made by the aboriginal communities to sophisticated, industrially made and expensive products such as suits.
The preparing, carding, spinning, weaving and finishing process of alpaca is very similar to the process used for wool.
At Alpaluxe we are proud to present the best quality of the Alpaca fleeces, the Baby Alpaca and the Luxurious
Royal Alpaca which counts for 1% of the total Alpaca wool production and comparable with the finest Cashmere. Among Alpaluxe’s Premium Collection are various woven Alpaca scarves and Shawls designs and textures.

TYPES

Suri Alpaca
There are two types of alpaca: Huacaya (which produce a dense, soft, crimpy sheep-like fiber), and the mop-like Suri (with silky pencil-like locks, resembling dread-locks but not actually matted fibers). Suris are prized for their longer and silkier fibers, and estimated to make up between 19-20% of the Alpaca population. Since its import into the United States, the number of Suri alpacas has grown substantially and become more color diverse. The Suri is thought to be rarer, possibly because it is less hardy in the harsh South American mountain climates, as its fleece offers less insulation against the cold.

A pair of Huacaya alpacas near an Inca burial site in Peru

http://www.alpaluxe.com

9Jan/110

Vicuna, Guanaco and Royal Alpaca: Finest Fibers

AlpaLuxe is committed to continuing the ancient tradition of the finest weaving and knits from Peru, South America. AlpaLuxe’s collection of exceptional shawls, wraps, scarves and hats are a culmination of many years of experience in men’s and women’s fashion, since 1980.

AlpaLuxe exclusively carries Vicuna, Guanaco and Royal Alpaca. All three fibers are elegant while functional; hypoallergenic, non-irritating, naturally lustrous and silky soft.

Vicuña is the finest, softest and most exclusive natural fiber in the world, considerably finer, silkier and lighter than Cashmere or Angora. Guanaco’s soft fibers are finer than the best Cashmere and second only to Vicuna. Vicuna and Guanaco fleece is light, incredibly warm, and lustrous. Exquisite wooden boxes encase each rare Vicuna or Guanaco shawl, scarf or cape from AlpaLuxe. They also make a great gift as well as a prestigious corporate gift.

Royal Alpaca is the rarest, consisting of the very first and finest shear of the Baby Alpaca and represents just 1% of all the Alpaca Fiber produced in the world. Only the very top quality is carefully selected by AlpaLuxe. Fashionable and luxurious AlpaLuxe’s accessories enhance any garment. Each one is beautifully made, whether it is a Chullo, (Ear-flap Hat), an elegant Cape or a beautiful bolt of Vicuna fabric in the hands of a tailor.

www.alpaluxe.com

27Dec/100

NEW YEAR: CELEBRATE

Celebrate with a few friends, some music, some bubbly ...that's all you need!
Happy New Year from www.alpaluxe.com!

19Dec/100

December 19, 2010

Mano a Mano Scarf

Heavy snow cancels many many flights again across Europe From Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Florence, London and Paris' Charles de Gaulle airports dealing with delays, cancellations and closings. Stay warm and browse www.AlpaLuxe.com for our accessories. Vicuna, Guanaco, Alpaca layers will provide warmth and elegance.

Featured is the "Mano a Mano" Hand Loomed Scarf from Peru: 90 % Baby Alpaca and 10 % Silk. Great gift item for men and women. On our www.alpaluxe.com site.

19Dec/100

Vargas Llosa: Nobel Prize for Literature, 2010.

Vargas LLosa, originally from Arequipa, Peru is currently teaching a semester in Princeton and the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. When he was young he thought: "Latin America seemed to be a land where there were only dictators, revolutionaries, catastrophes. Now we know that Latin America can produce also artists, musicians, painters, thinkers, and novelists." AlpaLuxe is proud!

16Dec/100

Vicuna garments in China

Chinese consumers value Peruvian vicuña garments

Pablo Zegna, CEO of Zegna Group, said Chinese consumers are the best buyers of Peruvian vicuña wool garments, reported Andina.

According to the executive of the men's luxury clothing company Ermenegildo Zegna, Chinese buyers are willing to pay up to US$ 20,000 for vicuña wool garments.

“The garments made with Peruvian vicuña wool are highly demanded in the best markets of the world, even China pays more than the United States for these products,” he stated.

Zegna explained that Peruvian vicuña wool is highly sought-after in the international market since it is considered a rare or exotic product.

“In the United States, a blanket made from vicuña wool may cost US$ 8,000, a jacket US$ 15,000, and coats can cost US$ 18,000,” he detailed.

Ermenegildo Zegna was established in 1910 in the Milan, Italy and currently has more than 525 stores around the world.

Zegna met with President Alan García to assess the project carried out by Ermenegildo Zegna Group in the community of Picotani, Puno, where they buy some of the vicuña wool.

AlpaLuxe is proud to carry Vicuna and Guanaco garments please have a look at our website by clicking www.alpaluxe.com and contact us at USA Toll Free 1-877-284-0355 or 772- 492-8984.

13Dec/100

Shop from Home : It’s Cold Out There !

Tumi Chullo

Blizzards, Wind Gusts, Heavy Snow & Many Highways Closed.
Stay Home and Shop!
Visit us at Alpaluxe for those Scarves, Shawls, and Hats.
www.alpaluxe.com">www.alpaluxe.com. Holiday Shop from Home...
Featured here is the TUMI CHULLO (earflap hat) and the CLASSIC SCARF
Call us if you have any questions...

ALPALUXE For International Dial (772) 492-8984
Toll Free within the U.S.A. : 1-877-284-0355

11Dec/100

Take Time & Pause This Holiday Season

mVicuñaCHALINAb

Take Time to turn away from the Television, Face Book, and the "Twittering" World.

Take this time to find a simple elegant holiday gift, that will last because of its superior quality and workmanship.

Alpaluxe is proud to carry Vicuna products. All Natural Fibers & Allergy Free.

Vicuña is the finest, softest and most exclusive natural fiber in the world, considerably finer, silky and lighter than Cashmere or Angora.

The Vicuna, is an elegant animal living at 5000 meters/ 15,000 feet above sea level in the highlands of South American Andes.

The Vicuna is shorn every two years to produce an unsurpassed soft and light fiber of the best quality and finest finish.

The ancient Incas considered the Vicuna a sacred animal.

Every Vicuna item you purchase from Alpaluxe comes in its own finely crafted wooden box as shown in photograph above.

Every Vicuna item you purchase from AlpaLuxe also comes to you with its own individually signed and registered certificate of authenticity from Peru, adding to its exclusivity.

Take Time to Make Quality Count: A Vicuna Gift is a Lasting Gift!

www.alpaluxe.com

10Dec/100

December 9, 2010

scarf

From Paris to Poland...
Severe Weather...
Stay Warm with Alpaluxe Fine Scarves, Shawls,Hats:
Cozy, Warm, Versatile, & Great for Travelling!
www.AlpaLuxe.com
For International : Call Us at (772) 492-8984
Within the United States: 1-877-284-0355, toll free.