BLACK ALPACA

The original colour of alpacas is a natural reflection of their genetic diversity, ranging across an impressive palette of around 36 shades—from pure white to deep black, with an array of greys and browns in between.

However, the global commercialisation of alpaca wool in the 1960s a premium was placed on pure white fibre for its versatility in dyeing, causing many natural colours to the brink of extinction. Today, only 28 shades remain, with the rarest of them all being black, comprising less than 0.05% of alpacas in the Peruvian Andes, making it the most elusive alpaca quality in the world.

Recognising the urgency to preserve this remarkable heritage, we partnered with the Pacomarca Alpaca Research Facility in 2012 to save the black alpaca. The solution for our mission was to incentivise the indigenous herders by breeding this rare colour of alpaca, which became the beginning of commercialising the luxurious black fibre.

Since then, Pacomarca’s dedicated veterinarian team has explored the highlands, meticulously selecting and buying black alpacas for their fine fibre potential. These rare animals are purchased at premium prices—often higher than pedigree white alpacas—and brought to the research facility to build the Pure Black breeding program. This initiative has inspired herders to prioritise breeding black alpacas alongside their white counterparts, giving new hope to this endangered lineage.

Although we managed to release limited capsule collections over the years, it took nearly a decade of effort to sustainably reintroduce 100% natural black alpaca wool of the highest quality to the world. This milestone is not just a triumph for craftsmanship and fashion but also a testament to the preservation of cultural and ecological heritage.