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In this March 8, 2016 photo, alpacas stand on the Mallkini Hacienda that breeds them to sell their fiber in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. The 4 million alpacas that graze on the remote slopes of Peru's southeastern Andes wear warm coats of a silky fiber highly sought in the United States, Europe and Asia. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__2_]()
In this March 8, 2016 photo, farm workers sheer an alpaca on the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. Alpaca breeders sell the fiber for $3 a pound, but the same amount on the international market can fetch as much as $300 dollars, according to agrarian authorities in Puno. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__1_]()
In this March 9, 2016 photo, yarn made from alpaca fiber lays inside a storage area at a weaving workshop where women spin alpaca hair into yarn for a company in Ajoyani village of the Puno department of Peru. The finest threads are chosen, then washed, dried, cleaned up and converted into yarn. Finally, the yarn is woven into fabric used to make clothing. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![APTOPIX_Peru_Alpaca_F_Vros__1_]()
In this March 8, 2016 photo, an Andean shepherd carries a young alpaca back to the herd after it strayed away within the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm, which breeds alpacas for their fiber, in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. The shepherd leads the alpacas outside the farm every day for grazing and exercise, and returns them to the farm at night. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__7_]()
In this March 9, 2016 photo, Andean weavers chat as they roll strands of alpaca fiber on to spools in the courtyard of the weaving company where they work in Ajoyani village in the Puno department of Peru. Some of the women wear masks over their mouths to protect them from dust that comes off the wool as they work with it. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__4_]()
In this March 7, 2016 photo, a woman works with alpaca fiber threads on a loom at the Inkapalca factory, which produces the Peruvian clothing brand Kuna, in Arequipa, Peru. Factories use the fiber to manufacture some 46 million pieces of fine clothing annually, including cardigans, sweaters, coats and scarves destined for sale in countries including the United States, Germany and Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros]()
In this March 8, 2016 photo, a farm worker holds the head of an alpaca between his legs as another sheers its hair on the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm, which breeds alpacas for their fiber, in the Puno department of Peru. An estimated 1.2 million Peruvians raise alpacas but must fight to keep them healthy from mange and freezing temperatures that can kill the babies. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__5_]()
In this March 9, 2016 photo, black and white alpacas run on the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. Colored in one of 24 different natural tones, the fiber from this domesticated camelid smaller than a llama is processed after an annual shearing, with each alpaca producing a little more than 8 pounds (3.7 kilograms) of fiber each year. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__6_]()
In this March 7, 2016 photo, a creation made of alpaca fiber, by Peruvian designer Jenny Duarte, stands at her workshop in Arequipa, Peru. About 80 percent of the world production of the alpaca fiber once used by the Incas is from Peru. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![Peru_Alpaca_Fiber_Pho_Vros__3_]()
In this March 7, 2016 photo, a woman removes small balls of threads, considered imperfections, from cloth made of alpaca fiber, at the Inkapalca factory which produces the Peruvian clothing brand Kuna, in Arequipa, Peru. Beginning in 2014, the Peruvian government launched special labeling for "Alpaca of Peru" to position the product in the global luxury market. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![APTOPIX_Peru_Alpaca_F_Vros]()
In this March 8, 2016 photo, an alpaca walks to rejoin the herd after getting sheered on the Mallkini Hacienda in the highlands of the Puno department in Peru. Alpaca breeders sell the fiber for $3 a pound, but the same amount on the international market can fetch as much as $300 dollars, according to agrarian authorities in Puno. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)Alpaca fibers from Peru help keep people warm across the globe
The Alpaca fiber, colored in one of 24 different natural tones, is processed after an annual shearing, with each alpaca producing a little more than 8 pounds of fiber each year.
Move Forward
- Alpaca fibers from Peru help keep people warm across the globe
