Sustainability
Alpaca is quickly becoming one of the world’s most renowned sustainable fibers.
Made in Bolivia and sourced locally, YAPA knits are traceable farm to finish. Starting with the wool that comes from a spinning mill which collects its fiber from small alpaca farms in the highlands, to the knitters, mostly women, who choose to knit our pieces either at home or in our workshop, benefiting from stable living conditions and fair wages.
Alpacas could be the greenest animals on the planet. Down to the fact their hooves are softly padded, which reduces environmental impact, alpacas also produce more fleece than sheep and they have more effective eating and drinking habits than other grazing animals, which also reduces impact. They adapt to the harsh conditions of the Bolivian and Peruvian Andes, and the fact that the animals are not harmed during the shearing process means that they are highly sustainable.
Step 1
Collected from small farms
Alpaca fiber is collected from local small farms in La Paz, Bolivia.
Step 2
Separated, cleaned and woven
Alpaca fiber is separated and cleaned to start the weaving process. Our knits are made of 100% pure “baby alpaca” wool, the highest quality of alpaca fiber. This term refers to the grading of the fineness of the fiber, which comes from the softest parts of an adult alpaca, not the age of the animal.
Alpaca wool comes in many beautiful shades, so YAPA knits are either natural or made with non-toxic dyes. Alpaca wool is also a natural fiber, therefore it is biodegradable.
Step 3
Ready for knitting
After the weaving process is finished, the baby alpaca wool is ready for knitting.
YAPA knits are made by artisan knitters close to the origin of our raw materials.
Made slowly, close to where it begins
Discover the knits made with baby alpaca from Bolivia.
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