Natural Fibers
Vicuña Fiber
Andean Altiplano, Peru
About
At 12 microns, vicuña fiber is the finest natural fiber on earth — three times finer than the finest cashmere. It is harvested once every two to three years through the traditional chaku roundup practiced by Andean communities for millennia. The Peruvian government controls its export tightly, and any vicuña cloth carries a CITES certificate. A single coat requires approximately 200 grams of fiber — the yield of four animals.
Properties
- Fiber diameter: 12–13 microns
- Harvest: once per 2–3 years per animal
- CITES-certified — requires international documentation
- Non-dyed — natural caramel tone only
- Self-warming — adapts to body temperature