Alpaca fiber from Peru destined for luxury stores

The 4 million alpacas that graze on the remote slopes of Peru's southeastern Andes wear warm coats of a silky fiber highly sought in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Colored in one of 24 different natural tones, the fiber from this domesticated camelid smaller than a llama is processed after an annual shearing, with each alpaca producing a little more than 8 pounds (3.7 kilograms) of fiber each year.

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APTOPIX Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 8, 2016 photo, an Andean shepherd carries a young alpaca back to the herd after it strayed away within the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm, which breeds alpacas for their fiber, in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. The shepherd leads the alpacas outside the farm every day for grazing and exercise, and returns them to the farm at night. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

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The finest threads are chosen, then washed, dried, cleaned up and converted into yarn. Finally, the yarn is woven into fabric used to make clothing.

An estimated 1.2 million poor Peruvians raise alpacas but must fight to keep them healthy from mange and freezing temperatures that can kill the babies. They sell the fiber for $3 a pound, but the same amount on the international market can fetch as much as $300, according to agrarian authorities in Puno.

In Arequipa, an important southern Peruvian city about 185 miles (300 kilometers) from Puno, factories use the fiber to manufacture 46 million pieces of fine clothing annually, including cardigans, sweaters, coats and scarves destined for sale in the United States, Germany, Japan and other wealthy nations.

Beginning in 2014, the Peruvian government launched special labeling for "Alpaca of Peru" to position the product in the global luxury market. About 80 percent of the world production of the alpaca fiber once used by the Incas is from Peru.

"I'm super happy to be able to work with this fiber, to take it to the world in expositions, fashion shows," said Jenny Duarte, a clothes designer in Arequipa. "It's a noble fiber, a luxury fiber, really marvelous because its covering is light, is soft."

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Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 8, 2016 photo, farm workers sheer an alpaca on the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. Alpaca breeders sell the fiber for $3 a pound, but the same amount on the international market can fetch as much as $300 dollars, according to agrarian authorities in Puno. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 8, 2016 photo, alpacas stand on the Mallkini Hacienda that breeds them to sell their fiber in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. The 4 million alpacas that graze on the remote slopes of Peru's southeastern Andes wear warm coats of a silky fiber highly sought in the United States, Europe and Asia. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 7, 2016 photo, a creation made of alpaca fiber, by Peruvian designer Jenny Duarte, stands at her workshop in Arequipa, Peru. About 80 percent of the world production of the alpaca fiber once used by the Incas is from Peru. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 9, 2016 photo, black and white alpacas run on the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm in the highlands of the Puno department of Peru. Colored in one of 24 different natural tones, the fiber from this domesticated camelid smaller than a llama is processed after an annual shearing, with each alpaca producing a little more than 8 pounds (3.7 kilograms) of fiber each year. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 7, 2016 photo, a woman works with alpaca fiber threads on a loom at the Inkapalca factory, which produces the Peruvian clothing brand Kuna, in Arequipa, Peru. Factories use the fiber to manufacture some 46 million pieces of fine clothing annually, including cardigans, sweaters, coats and scarves destined for sale in countries including the United States, Germany and Japan. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 9, 2016 photo, Andean weavers chat as they roll strands of alpaca fiber on to spools in the courtyard of the weaving company where they work in Ajoyani village in the Puno department of Peru. Some of the women wear masks over their mouths to protect them from dust that comes off the wool as they work with it. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

APTOPIX Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 8, 2016 photo, an alpaca walks to rejoin the herd after getting sheered on the Mallkini Hacienda in the highlands of the Puno department in Peru. Alpaca breeders sell the fiber for $3 a pound, but the same amount on the international market can fetch as much as $300 dollars, according to agrarian authorities in Puno. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 8, 2016 photo, alpacas mate on the Mallkini Hacienda farm in the highlands in the Puno department of Peru. The hacienda breeds alpacas by mating the ones they consider to have the finest hair in hopes of producing the best offspring for next year's annual sheering. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 9, 2016 photo, yarn made from alpaca fiber lays inside a storage area at a weaving workshop where women spin alpaca hair into yarn for a company in Ajoyani village of the Puno department of Peru. The finest threads are chosen, then washed, dried, cleaned up and converted into yarn. Finally, the yarn is woven into fabric used to make clothing. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 7, 2016 photo, a woman removes small balls of threads, considered imperfections, from cloth made of alpaca fiber, at the Inkapalca factory which produces the Peruvian clothing brand Kuna, in Arequipa, Peru. Beginning in 2014, the Peruvian government launched special labeling for "Alpaca of Peru" to position the product in the global luxury market. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 8, 2016 photo, a farm worker holds the head of an alpaca between his legs as another sheers its hair on the Mallkini Hacienda alpaca farm, which breeds alpacas for their fiber, in the Puno department of Peru. An estimated 1.2 million Peruvians raise alpacas but must fight to keep them healthy from mange and freezing temperatures that can kill the babies. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

Peru Alpaca Fiber Photo Gallery

In this March 7, 2016 photo, a woman works with thread made from alpaca fiber at the Inkapalca factory which produces the Peruvian clothing brand Kuna, in Arequipa, Peru. "I’m super happy to be able to work with this fiber, to take it to the world in expositions, fashion shows,” said Jenny Duarte, a clothes designer in Arequipa. “It’s a noble fiber, a luxury fiber, really marvelous because its covering is light, is soft." (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

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Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Alpaca fiber from Peru destined for luxury stores, by Mauricio Munoz and Martin Mejia.

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