VICUÑA

CLOTHING, STYLE ICONS, STYLES AND FABRICS,  V

VICUÑA

2021-6-10

VICUÑA: FINE WOOL

Vicuña is a fine wool. It’s the warmest and above all the rarest. It’s called the “fibre of the gods”. It comes from a camelid from the Andean steppes. It was used by the Inca emperors. By 1960 camelids had dropped from over one million in 1400 to fewer than 5,000. Six years later, commercialization was banned to give rise to restocking under strict control. In 1976, the Washington convention included camelids among the endangered species.

IN 1987, PERU MADE A REQUEST TO THE CONVENTION

In 1987, Peru asked the Convention to be able to shear and sell a small percentage of vicuña. The modest shares were awarded to the Italian Loro Piana, Agnona and Condor Tips (Peruvian), companies considered to be among the most reliable in the world. Vicuña can be spun down to a thinness of 12 microns against the 15 minimum of cashmere. It’s long and silky, wheaten or deep tawny in color. Each adult animal produces 250 grams of hair every two years, nothing compared to a precious merino sheep (3-4 kilos a year), little compared to an already rare cashmere goat (300-500 grams per year). One coat needs 25-30 camelids.