Pure alpaca means all the fiber comes from alpaca; an acrylic blend contains alpaca plus a synthetic fiber, and the percentage of each must be written down. Pure alpaca usually costs quite a bit more. The blend is cheaper and does not tolerate heat. At Alpaca, most ponchos, all the shawls and the blankets are 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic.
This article is written by Alpaca, and we sell blends. That is why we tell you what you gain and lose with each option, and when we are not what you are looking for.
What each one is
- Pure alpaca: all the fiber comes from the animal. According to Wikipedia, alpaca fiber insulates against cold even when wet and good-quality fiber measures about 18 to 25 microns in diameter (finer fleeces are preferred and cost more).
- Acrylic: a synthetic fiber made of polyacrylonitrile. It is described as light, soft and with a feel similar to wool; it takes color well.
- Blend: the two together, with a percentage of each. Ours is 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic.
Side-by-side comparison
| Pure alpaca | 70% alpaca / 30% acrylic blend | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Higher, although price alone does not tell you how much alpaca it contains (see how much a poncho costs) | Lower: our ponchos range from US$30 to US$39.50 |
| Warmth | Good thermal insulator, also when wet (according to Wikipedia) | Keeps you warm thanks to the alpaca part; acrylic is not as warm when wet |
| Durability | Strong (more tensile strength than sheep wool, according to Wikipedia) | We have no test of our own: we do not promise it lasts more or less |
| Pilling | Depends on the yarn and the weave | Some acrylic weaves pill more easily |
| Heat (iron, dryer) | Avoid it | Avoid it: acrylic is synthetic and melts |
| Care | Delicate | Delicate: wash rarely, cold water, dry flat |
Note the last row: our official care for the blend is delicate. Do not expect it to be treated like just any synthetic garment.
The good about pure alpaca
- It insulates against cold even when wet.
- Finer fibers feel softer and, according to Wikipedia, fine fleeces are preferred and cost more.
The bad
- The price.
- It is hard to tell by eye: you depend on the label and the seller.
The good about an acrylic blend
- It is more accessible: the price drops a lot.
- Alpaca is still the largest part (70%).
- Acrylic, according to Wikipedia, holds color well.
The bad
- The 30% acrylic is synthetic, not natural, and does not tolerate heat.
- It is not what someone looking for pure alpaca wants. If that is you, we are not your option.
We are not going to tell you the blend is better. It is different, and its most concrete advantage is price.
How to read the label (or the online product page)
- Look for the percentage. "70% alpaca, 30% acrylic" tells you something. "Alpaca" with no percentage does not tell you how much alpaca it contains. Some listings say only "alpaca," or "baby alpaca blend," with no figure.
- Be wary of adjectives without a number. Terms like "baby alpaca" or "soft as alpaca" do not replace the composition. Ask how much it contains.
- Ask what the rest is. Acrylic, polyester, cotton. It is a normal question.
- Compare sizes, not just price. A poncho of 86 × 115 cm and one of 96 × 126 cm are not the same.
- Ask how to wash it. If they do not know, that is a bad sign.
Home tests (touching, stretching, burning a thread) are not reliable and burning is dangerous. The safest way is the label and a seller who answers.
How we do it at Alpaca
We make our ponchos, shawls and blankets with artisan families in Peguche, next to Otavalo; the ponchos are woven on a loom. We state the composition on each product page:
- Ponchos: most, 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic. Night Rain, Calm Rain and Imbabura Flower, 80% cotton and 20% polyester.
- Shawls: 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic.
- Blankets: 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic.
- Plush toys: embroidered fabric, not made of alpaca.
- Andean Snow Scarf: 70% alpaca.
Real workshop photo. If you want to know more about where everything comes from, read our story. And if you need to care for your garment, see how to wash an alpaca poncho.
Which suits you?
- You want pure alpaca: look for someone who shows the percentage in writing and be prepared to pay more. That is not us.
- You want warmth at a good price, to actually wear: a blend like ours, knowing what it contains.
- You want a gift: the composition matters less than the size and the care. See Gifts.
Frequently asked questions
Are Alpaca ponchos pure alpaca?
No. Most are 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic, and three are 80% cotton and 20% polyester.
What does 70% alpaca and 30% acrylic mean?
That 70 parts out of every 100 of the composition are alpaca fiber and 30 are acrylic, a synthetic fiber.
How do I know if a poncho is real alpaca?
Look at the percentage on the label or product page, ask what the rest is and be wary of listings that say only "alpaca" with no figure.
Does an acrylic blend itch?
It depends on the garment and the person; we cannot promise. If you have sensitive skin, try it first on your forearm and remember that you can return it unused within the following 30 days (return policy).
Why does pure alpaca cost more?
Because unblended alpaca fiber usually costs more than an acrylic blend. Even so, price alone does not tell you how much alpaca it contains: in how much an alpaca poncho costs there are examples with links and dates.