Fair Trade Handmade Alpaca Clothes |
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| By Louisa Coan |
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The majority of fair trade handmade alpaca clothing comes from South America, where alpacas have been bred for thousands of years. Alpaca yarn is very similar to cashmere, mohair and wool, however the fiber is much stronger. It contains microscopic air pockets that allow for better thermal properties while still keeping the garment light and comfortable. It is much smoother than wool and therefore does not have the same scratchy quality. The yarn goes through several stages of cleaning before it is ready to be died and used to make garments. Alpacas lack the natural body oil present in most other animals and for this reason the fibers require less chemical processing to prepare it for use. In fact, many people who have allergic reactions to mohair and wool, which contain lanolin, will usually find that they can wear alpaca clothing without any difficulty. Although alpaca fleece accepts dyes wonderfully, it is often not necessary to do so. It comes in a variety of more than twenty-two different colors. Natural colors include white, black, fawn, brown, gray, red, rose, silver and many different shades in between. The yarn can be used for many different types of clothing and accessories - hats, scarves, gloves and mittens, socks, sweaters, capes, dresses and skirts - as well as for household items such as rugs and blankets. The softness makes it wonderful to use in infant and children´s clothing as well. Another benefit to alpaca clothing is that the fleece is naturally stain and odor resistant, greatly minimizing the cost of maintaining your garments. It does not succumb to pilling and will not shrink if cared for properly. Alpaca garments should not be dry-cleaned. Smaller items (hats, socks)can be machine washed in a non-agitating washer. Larger items (sweaters, scarves) should be hand washed in lukewarm water with a mild detergent and laid flat to dry. Dyed fibers do have some chance of bleeding when washed, however the natural colors will not do so. When properly cared for, your garment will retain its beauty and vibrancy for many years. Fair trade handmade alpaca clothing can be purchased at very reasonable prices from many online clothing retailers. Hand-knit hats usually fall in the $20 to $25 range and adult sweaters and capes can be found for under $100. |
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| Article Source: http://interpret.zar.vg | ||||
| About The Author Louisa Coan is writing on behalf of Made Fair, who are a leading supplier of quality homemade knitted items and offer alpaca hats and animal finger puppets |
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