Alpaca Sweaters

Three styles in Quince Canada's lightweight baby alpaca line: the Cropped Cardigan (a shorter, vintage-inspired fit), the Ribbed Crewneck, and the Turtleneck. All three are knit from a 60% baby alpaca, 35% polyamide, 5% wool blend at 14 gauge, which keeps them light enough to layer while holding their shape.

Alpaca wool — specifically baby alpaca — has a silky, soft hand-feel that's closer to cashmere than to traditional sheep's wool. Alpaca fibers are hollow, which makes them naturally thermoregulating: warmer than wool by weight, but cool enough to wear in milder temperatures. It is less itchy than coarser wools, and pill-resistant by nature given the smoother fiber surface. Compared to cashmere, Quince's baby alpaca measures 18.7-22 microns against cashmere's 15.8-16.2, so alpaca is more durable and less prone to pilling, though the hand-feel reads slightly different — silkier, with more drape than fluff. Compared to merino at 19.5 microns, alpaca is silkier and warmer, but less elastic: it doesn't bounce back from stretching as quickly.

Baby alpaca is the finest grade of alpaca wool — shorn from the first clipping of a young alpaca, when the fibers are at their thinnest and softest. It is not alpaca from baby animals. Quince sources its baby alpaca from Peru, where the fibers measure 18.7-22 microns and 86-89mm in length, and all three styles sold in Canada use it. Compared to standard adult alpaca, baby alpaca has finer fibers, a softer hand-feel, and less prickle, which makes it better for skin-contact wear; standard alpaca is rougher and coarser. The grading is similar to how cashmere is differentiated by fiber diameter.

Hand wash cool with a mild detergent — never hot water. Lay flat to dry. Alpaca holds its shape better than wool or cashmere when washed, but high heat (a warm or hot machine cycle, or tumble drying) will felt the fibers permanently. Pill management is minimal — alpaca is naturally pill-resistant thanks to the smoother fiber surface, so you'll rarely need a sweater comb. Store folded, not hung. Avoid bleach. The Ribbed Crewneck has a textured surface — air-dry it open rather than rolled to keep the rib definition.

Explore our Cardigans, Cotton Sweaters, Cashmere Sweaters, Merino Wool Sweaters, Pullovers, Sweater Vests, Oversized Sweaters, Yak Sweaters, Turtlenecks and Baby Cashmere Sweaters collections.