Artists Compete at the Natural Fiber Extravaganza

The Natural Fiber Extravaganza powered by Alpaca Owners Association has been cancelled this year due to concerns over COVID-19. However, the National Fleece Show will continue as planned July 9 - 11, 2020 at the Wilson County Exposition Center in Lebanon, TN. This event is not open to the public.

Two competitions taking place at the show are the AOA Fiber Arts Competition and AOA Photo Competition. Entries for both will be on display during the show for the public to view.

World Cardigan Day

Today, November 13, 2019 World Kindness Day and World Cardigan Day coincide. What are two things these topics have in common? The beloved Mister Rogers, of course!

When people remember Fred Rogers, the star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, they recall his messages of kindness. They also usually picture him in one of his cardigan sweaters, which came in a variety of primary color and spoke to the warm and fuzzy nature of his presence. Tom Hanks will soon be seen in these sweaters in his roll of Mister Rogers in the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, you can gift a loved one (or yourself) a Mister Rogers Alpaca Sweater. These replica sweaters are made from 100% alpaca wool and come in three iconic styles. Instead of traditional sizing, they will be available in sizes 1 – 6. Completely gender neutral, these sweaters will work for everybody.

Raw Alpaca Fiber Possesses Antibacterial Properties

Alpaca Owners Association (AOA) announced recent laboratory testing results revealed that raw alpaca fiber possesses antibacterial properties. 

“While the effect is modest, it is likely comparable to the natural antibacterial properties of scoured sheep’s wool,” said Bud Synhorst, Executive Director of AOA.  “This will increase the interest of alpaca fiber within the active apparel industry.”

Alpaca Natural Fiber Extravaganza

Since the United States first commercially imported alpacas in 1984, alpaca breeders have worked hard to produce offspring with the finest, softest, most lustrous fleece. Until recently the primary focus of the industry was on breeding to build a national herd of superior fleece producing livestock able to compete in the global market. The time has come to focus on the fleece!

2016 Alpaca Owners Association Fleece Conference

International Fleece Show to be Hosted in Arlington, Virginia

Since the United States first commercially imported alpacas in 1984, alpaca breeders have worked hard to produce offspring with the finest, softest, most lustrous fleece. Until recently the primary focus of the industry was on breeding to build a national herd of superior fleece producing livestock able to compete in the global market. The time has come to focus on the fleece!

The 2016 Alpaca Owners Association (AOA) Fleece Conference takes place July 21 -24, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA and will feature:

•  AOA International Auxiliary Fleece Competitions
• Fleece, Fiber and Farm Seminars
• Livestock Business Seminars
• General Alpaca Seminars
• AOA Annual Meeting
• Fleece to Shawl Demonstration
• Photo Contest Display
• Student Design Competition Winners’ Display
• National Fleece Show and Vendors

Conference registration details are available at www.fleececonference.com.

The alpaca product vendors at this event will be open to the public on Saturday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 am. – 12 p.m. These vendors will offer a variety of spectacular and one-of-a-kind items such as alpaca sweaters, shawls, socks, stuffed animals and for the knitters and weavers out there, alpaca yarn! Alpaca yarn is second-to-none. 

This year the first ever AOA Fiber Artist Marketplace will be featured, exclusively selling items “Made in America” from a variety of alpaca fleece producers.

You don’t want to miss this event on the lower level of Hyatt Regency in Arlington, VA. DC locals can take the metro to Crystal City Station and call the hotel for a free shuttle to the event.  

About Alpaca Fleece

Alpaca fleece is stronger, lighter, warmer, and more resilient than wool from most breeds of sheep. Finer grades of alpaca fleece (known commercially as “Baby Alpaca”) are believed to be hypo-allergenic, meaning they do not irritate your skin as sheep’s wool sometimes does. Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca fleece contains no lanolin and is therefore ready to spin after only nominal cleaning of the fleece. Prized for its unique, silky feel, and superb “handle,” alpaca fleece is highly sought-after by both cottage-industry artists (hand spinners, knitters, weavers, etc.) as well as the commercial fashion industry.

One facet of alpaca fleece that makes it so much in vogue is its great variety of natural colors; pure white, several shades of fawn and brown, several shades of gray and true black – some 17 official colors with many other subtle shades and hues. White, light fawn, and light gray can be readily dyed, thus offering a rainbow of colors for the fleece artist. Alpaca fleece can also be readily combined with other fine fibers like merino wool, cashmere, mohair, silk, and angora to attain incredibly interesting blends.

Come see what everybody is talking about at the 2016 AOA Fleece Conference.

For more information about the alpaca business, watch the industry’s video at http://youtu.be/cCv-3lfgTAo. To learn more about the Alpaca Owners Association or the AOA National Fleece Conference, visit www.alpacainfo.com. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our fashion industry blog post. We hope that you have found this information about alpaca fleece to be informative. 

You can learn more about alpaca in our textile fiber section.

If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below or contact directly to the Alpaca Owners Association.