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So firstly, washing. You really don't need to wash Alpaca items too much. Alpaca breathes really well and doesn't retain odours, so most of the time it doesn't need to be washed. I personally wash some of my items once a season or once every couple of years, depending on how often they're worn.

If a piece just needs refreshing, you can simply just air it outside. Some people even put it in the freezer. That's one that I really like. When washing is needed though, the best advice is to hand-wash alpaca garments in tepid water. So you don't necessarily need to do it in just cold, but not hot either, as that's going to shrink the item. And you use a natural detergent.

There's no need to scrub or rub too hard or tug the fibre. Just gently move the water through the garment. And then, to remove the water, the best practice is to lay the piece flat on a towel and roll it up to absorb the water. Or you can put it in a delicate bag and then put it on just a short spin cycle, which will do the trick as well to get the water out.

For drying, always lay alpaca pieces flat. You can gently reshape them, lay them flat, and alpaca dries really quickly because it's a hollow fibre.  And the main thing you want to avoid here is having it stretched out of shape when it's wet.

You also want to avoid tumble drying or any extreme heat (hot water), as this can shrink the item. 

Washing can help really reset a garment. It can bring a piece back into shape if it has been slightly stretched by natural wear. It can even help reduce light and natural peeling. And, just a reminder for customers that alpaca and natural fibres can easily be washed at home.

Alpaca is definitely not just a dry-clean-only item. I think sometimes brands say this and put this on their products to really cover themselves if someone ruins a garment by washing it, which can happen. But the process that I just mentioned is quite simple, and you can really just wash a knit or a throw at home.

When it comes to storage, the best advice is to fold the item rather than hang it, especially for 100% alpaca pieces, because if it's stored on a hanger, the garment's weight over time can cause it to stretch at the shoulders. If that's happened, a gentle wash can help bring it back into shape. When you're putting knits away for the season. You can store them in a breathable bag, such as a calico bag, because it also can help protect them from moths.

And the last thing I think I need to mention about care is that I have a lot of people asking about pilling. So when people ask this, it's helpful to know that all natural fibres can develop some light pilling. It depends on how the garment's made, the tension, a whole lot of things.

But that can happen, especially in areas of friction. Alpaca holds up pretty well in the world of natural fibres and peeling, but if this does occur, you can just use a peel comb, pick it off with your fingers, give it a wash, and over time, this should reduce as those extra fibres work their way out.

Also, one thing to note is that Suri alpaca is one of the most peel-resistant fibres that I've ever worked with, so I've had no issues with Suri jumpers, which have been amazing.

I hope this all feels simple and easy to share. And if any of your customers or community members have any more specific questions about washing, care or maintenance that you're unsure about, they are more than welcome to contact me directly by email or through La Sierra’s Instagram.