Positive Luxury
Peru
Pure Black Alpaca This pure natural fibre - valued more than gold by the ancient Incas - represents the finest quality and our philosophy of Positive Luxury.
Country and region
The Peruvian Andes.
Material
Non-dyed natural black baby alpaca.
Quality
Baby Alpaca.
Micron range
22–23 microns.
Sustainability
We only source from traditionally herded alpaca through fair and direct trade with complete traceability throughout the supply chain.
Mission
To save the rarest alpaca which is the black, comprising less than 0.05% of alpacas, making it the most elusive alpaca quality in the world.
The first ever "Black Alpaca" competition.
Herders presenting their top black alpaca's for judging.
Presenting the inaugural first "Black Alpaca" prize to the winning herder.
Natural alpaca colours
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.
Preventing extinction
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.
Creating a new mindset
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.
Hopeful future
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.
