A sweater of pure alpaca?

[BirdofSydney]

Gents,

I am taking the opportunity whilst in Tokyo to pick up some good quality, slim-fitting knitwear.

Amongst other things, I have run across a handsome sweater in 100% alpaca (grey melange, high round neck, fitted without being too trendy). On special, no less, at a very good price - about half of what Drumohr are asking for another in lambswool.

Can anyone advise? Will it be warm? Durable? And will it keep its shape?

Warmest regards &c.,

Bird

[davidhuh]

Dear Bird,

alpaca wool is used a lot in Peru, mainly for more traditional garments. If you find something that pleases your eyes and hands, don't hesitate. The fiber itself is very durable and resistant. Of course I cannot comment on the making.

About 25 years ago, I bought some coating cloth in Alpaca and had several sports coats made up. I was very happy with them for many years. This is a different story and comparing apples with pears, of course.

Cheers, David

[hectorm]

If you find something that pleases your eyes and hands, don't hesitate.

That´s the bottom-line. Good advice.
As a tourist coming back from Machu-Pichu many years ago I brought several alpaca sweaters for the family. Maybe not of the best quality but soft and warm for sure and they made great souvenirs. They proved to be very durable indeed. Mine had a colorful Inca design and a shiny silk finish that rendered it impractical, though.
But an alpaca sweater in a grey mélange shade sounds like something very wearable.

[Concordia]

Quality varies a lot. You can pay $15 in the Peruvian street markets for something hand-knitted by someone with not terribly high standards, or you can go to the shop in Lima's famous private museum and pay $85 for something that would cost $170 in New York-- and still be worth it. If you do find something good and tastefully made, however, don't hesitate. When done properly, Alpaca sweaters are very nice.

[couch]

I recall that back in the '60s alpaca cardigans were de rigeur on the golf course. Lacoste made them, among others. A kind of hard piqué knit. I snubbed them for a long time after as being far too suburban bourgeois for anyone of spirit (as I did golf, for that matter). It wasn't until they were almost impossible to find that I realized what good quality they were (and the less common pullovers too). In the interim they had been replaced by acrylic imitations that were clammy and pilled easily, and then just gone. If someone is making that quality again it would be good to find.