ALPACA
The alpaca (Lama pacos) is a member of the South American camelid family and is closely related to llamas, guanacos, and vicuñas. Native to the Peruvian Andes, alpacas were domesticated thousands of years ago. Today, there are an estimated 3.5 to 4 million alpacas in South America, with around 95% living primarily in southern Peru. They are raised at altitudes ranging from 3,500 to over 4,500 meters above sea level, where they naturally withstand temperatures from –20°C to 30°C thanks to their exceptionally fine fleece.
GUANACO
The guanaco’s habitat extends along the Andes mountain range, from northern Peru to Tierra del Fuego, including Argentine Patagonia, where a large portion of the population is found. Like the vicuña, the guanaco is a wild species, so shearing must be carried out carefully to avoid stressing the animals. Finer than cashmere, its fiber is naturally brown, woolly, dense, and short. Shearing takes place once a year during the warmer months, typically between November and January. This fine fleece is used in a similar way to vicuña fiber and is often hand-spun to create unique, artisanal pieces.
VICUÑA
The vicuña is the smallest of the four South American camelids. It lives on the Andean plains at elevations of around 4,000 meters above sea level, with a natural range stretching from Ecuador to northern Chile and Argentina. It is shorn once a year during a traditional ceremony known as Chaku—a respectful practice designed to harvest and protect this precious fiber, which is essential to Andean cultures.
The vicuña’s territorial and social stability reflects the balance of the ecosystem it inhabits. Unlike the southern guanaco, the vicuña does not experience extreme seasonal climate changes that force migration, and instead feeds on local grasses within its native habitat.
SHEEP
Sheep today are primarily found in Argentina, the United States, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. Merino sheep are especially valued for their exceptional thermal insulation. Wool naturally repels water, can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture, and helps keep the skin dry by allowing perspiration vapor to escape. It is also odor-resistant and naturally flame-retardant.
CHAGUAR
Chaguar, also known as caraguatá, is a plant-based fiber traditionally used by communities in northern Argentina. Botanically, it belongs to the bromeliad family and has many uses, including nutritional, decorative, and medicinal. Chaguar craftsmanship is an exclusively female activity carried out by Wichi women.
The fibers are separated, the leaves are soaked for a day, and then carefully peeled by hand, one by one. They are then beaten and scraped to clean them. Spinning is done by rolling bundles of fiber over the thigh with the palm of the hand, twisting and retwisting them to form thread. Drawing on their deep knowledge of the forest, Wichi women gather roots, fruits, bark, and leaves, which are boiled to create natural dyes for the yarns they later weave.