Vicuna fiber is the rarest, most expensive natural fiber in the world. Vicunas look like their cousins, the llamas, but they are the smallest members of the camelid family. They live in the high, freezing altitudes of the Andes. These animals were considered sacred by the Incas and only members of royalty were allowed to wear the precious cloth woven from their fleece. This fleece is not only very soft and fine but it has remarkable insulating properties and resilience too.
In their time, there was no shortage of vicunas roaming the Andes. Unfortunately, due to the high value of the fleece, vicunas were hunted from the time of the Spanish conquistadors through the 1960s. At this point they were near to extinction and urgent measures had to be taken to protect the decimated herd. The Peruvian government placed the remaining animals on a reservation and instituted programs whereby the local communities benefited financially from capturing and shaving the animals.
A chacu was a ceremony instituted by the Incas whereby Vicunas were captured for shearing. They were surrounded by a human chain and slowly closed in one. They were then sheared and released back into the wild. Carefully managed, modern-day chacus are allowed today. A large portion of the profits return to the locals, giving them a sustainable source of income.
The coats of vicunas are not only unusually soft and light but very warm at the same time. This warmth and resilience is due to the extreme conditions in which the animals live. The fleece is much, much finer than a human hair and even finer than cashmere. It is the neck and the back that are sheared for the fleece.
The fleece consists of two layers. The underneath layer is formed from densely packed fibers with tiny scales that lock together forming pockets filled with air for insulation. The outer layer is silky and long, varying in shade from dark fawn and golden brown to the color of wheat.
The chacu was a ceremony used by the Incas for rounding up these animals for shearing before releasing them into the wild again. Traditional roundups are still conducted today, although they are now strictly monitored by government. The locals slowly encircle the animals, eventually taking them into tents where they are sheared and then released. The Peruvian government uses a system of labeling to identify garments that are created from fibers obtained through a government sanctioned chacu. The profits from sales return to the locals.
Another reason why these fibers are scarce is that an adult can only be sheared every two years. Added to this is the fact that one adult only provides about 120 grams, not enough to make even a scarf. In order to make a sweater, the fleece from about six animals is required.
In 1994 the Peruvian government formed a consortium of companies who were allowed to process and export fibers and finished products made from them. Their strategy was to create reserves where the animals could be protected, while still roaming free as these animals do not survive in captivity. Vicuna fiber is still relatively rare and expensive but there is an increasing demand worldwide as its extraordinary qualities are discovered.
In their time, there was no shortage of vicunas roaming the Andes. Unfortunately, due to the high value of the fleece, vicunas were hunted from the time of the Spanish conquistadors through the 1960s. At this point they were near to extinction and urgent measures had to be taken to protect the decimated herd. The Peruvian government placed the remaining animals on a reservation and instituted programs whereby the local communities benefited financially from capturing and shaving the animals.
A chacu was a ceremony instituted by the Incas whereby Vicunas were captured for shearing. They were surrounded by a human chain and slowly closed in one. They were then sheared and released back into the wild. Carefully managed, modern-day chacus are allowed today. A large portion of the profits return to the locals, giving them a sustainable source of income.
The coats of vicunas are not only unusually soft and light but very warm at the same time. This warmth and resilience is due to the extreme conditions in which the animals live. The fleece is much, much finer than a human hair and even finer than cashmere. It is the neck and the back that are sheared for the fleece.
The fleece consists of two layers. The underneath layer is formed from densely packed fibers with tiny scales that lock together forming pockets filled with air for insulation. The outer layer is silky and long, varying in shade from dark fawn and golden brown to the color of wheat.
The chacu was a ceremony used by the Incas for rounding up these animals for shearing before releasing them into the wild again. Traditional roundups are still conducted today, although they are now strictly monitored by government. The locals slowly encircle the animals, eventually taking them into tents where they are sheared and then released. The Peruvian government uses a system of labeling to identify garments that are created from fibers obtained through a government sanctioned chacu. The profits from sales return to the locals.
Another reason why these fibers are scarce is that an adult can only be sheared every two years. Added to this is the fact that one adult only provides about 120 grams, not enough to make even a scarf. In order to make a sweater, the fleece from about six animals is required.
In 1994 the Peruvian government formed a consortium of companies who were allowed to process and export fibers and finished products made from them. Their strategy was to create reserves where the animals could be protected, while still roaming free as these animals do not survive in captivity. Vicuna fiber is still relatively rare and expensive but there is an increasing demand worldwide as its extraordinary qualities are discovered.
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