RedMaple Alpaca Sportswear & Giveaway!
Fuzzy Snowflake Alpaca Sweater from RedMaple Sportswear Co.
I love the RedMaple Sportswear Co. What a fabulous company, and they are owned by alpaca folks! RedMaple Sportswear is a Maine/NH seacoast based apparel company promoting the natural beauty & outdoor lifestyle enjoyed in their region. Though I’m a Southern gal, I adore the looks from this region, and how I love these sweaters for a chilly day! RedMaple’s focus is on natural fibers which provides eco-friendly alternatives to synthetics. They are a small, independent company with innovative specialty products not found in department stores.
Their Fall/Winter designs focus on the use of alpaca, which has been known for thousands of years as a noble fiber. Most of RedMaple’s staff members are actually involved in raising their own domestic alpaca breeding herds, so they have extensive knowledge of how best to use this amazing resource.
Alpaca fiber is naturally warm, strong, breathable & durable, luxuriously soft, and grows in over 20 natural colors. It is highly resilient for wrinkle-free packing. RedMaple uses 100% baby alpaca (a premium grade) & blends of alpaca with cotton, wool, or other natural fibers. Specialty products feature therapeutic copper, organic cotton, pima cotton, bamboo, & naturally colorgrown (undyed) fiber.
Women’s Eco Vest from Red Maple
Fascinated by an alpaca breeder turned sportswear king, I had to get some more scoop from David Stensland, the founder of RedMaple Sportswear. David worked in apparel design and manufacturing for over 20 years. He worked with small mom-and-pop brands as well as big name companies like J.Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Jack Nicklaus Golf.
During his years in New York City, David got involved in the alpaca breeding community. Soon after that he left the corporate apparel world to work exclusively on alpaca design.
“RedMaple sprung from all those experiences once I moved in 2004 to my current home on the southern tip of the coast of Maine and wanted a brand to reflect the natural beauty and outdoor lifestyle we enjoy here in New England’s seacoast. It’s a classic, outdoorsy, casual, but sophisticated approach to looking good and feeling good that our fans react to regardless of where they live,” says David.
When asked about his alpaca herd, David told me that he began breeding and selling huacaya alpacas in 1998 with a focus on fine fibers in exotic colors like maroons, blacks, and greys. David has always boarded his alpacas with other breeders but did a lot of hands-on things like training and showing. In 2004 RedMaple began to take over most of David’s waking moments so his involvement in his alpacas has lessened a bit, but he still co-owns a herd of alpacas in New Hampshire.
It sounds like RedMaple’s socks are one of their best sellers. They like to say that they are “wear-tested on a real alpaca farm”. David says that alpaca breeders have amazingly high standards for socks. Alpaca breeders sell a lot of socks so they need to believe in them. “I think they are harder to to convince about a sock than a herdsire! But our socks typically become a favorite. We pay attention to comfort, easy care, heels that don’t wear out, etc….so they are a high value item that most anyone can afford and feel good about”.
David has been doing alpaca sweaters and accessories almost exclusively for almost half his career, so he’s learned a few things about how to use this incredible fiber to its best advantage, and in a way that’s both wearable and unique. David takes pride in the high level of taste reflected by his clothing. “It’s not enough to say, ‘Oh, it’s alpaca’ – the customer has to see it from across the room and instantly say, ‘OMG! I want that!” Then when they pick it up and say, ‘Wow. AND this is alpaca???”
RedMaple Sportswear is all about innovative design, the highest quality materials and construction along with outstanding customer service. I highly recommend that you shop with them this holiday season. As a special incentive for our readers, RedMaple is offering a drawing for a free alpaca accessory! To enter the drawing, enter the code “alpacafarmgirl” when you place any order in December. You can enter (and order) as many times as you like.
Alpaca Hat Giveaway
We are giving away this RedMaple alpaca Summit Beanie courtesy of David and our friends at RedMaple. This beanie is so cute, and extremely soft. You won’t believe how great this feels to your skin!
To enter, just visit the RedMaple Sportswear store, come back and leave a comment with your favorite item in their shop. For extra entries you can 1.) Blog about this giveaway, and 2.) Tweet about this giveaway. Max of one tweet daily. Leave a comment for each additional entry. (If you read this blog post on Facebook – you will need to click here and leave a comment on the main blog rather than on FB.) Winner will be chosen by random.org. Contest ends Saturday, December 19th at 10pm CST.
Thank you to RedMaple Sportswear for sponsoring this giveaway, and for giving me the opportunity to try out your alpaca socks , which I love!
December 15th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I am in love with the handwoven solid throw in red. OMG gorgeous. I can just feel being curled up in it by my fireplace in my drafty old farmhouse. +1!
December 15th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
There is so much to love on the Red Maple Sportswear website. I particularly love the women’s vests. The Ridgeport Zip Vest is rather lovely. The alpaca socks look extremely yummy.
Thank you for turning me on to Red Maple Sportswear.
December 16th, 2009 at 2:08 am
oh! i love the eco zip vest! yum.will tweet this!
vtknitboy´s last blog ..Alpaca Bunny Smackdown…the results!
December 16th, 2009 at 5:30 am
I was sold on their socks ages ago! The warm crew socks are a favorite of both me and my husband. Rock on for the fun giveaways…one of these days I’ll win, right?
Wonder Why Gal´s last blog ..Neapolitan
December 16th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I think my favorite is the Sea Breeze Women’s shawl…it looks so luxurious!!
Tweeting for an extra entry!
Diane – DB Impressions´s last blog ..Herding cattle?
December 16th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I love the handwoven shawls!
December 16th, 2009 at 8:50 am
What a great site.
Thank you for introducing it to me.
I like the Summit Half Zip.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:52 am
I love everything on the site! My favorite, being a sock person, is the Alpaca Copper Trailblazer 2, the long alpaca socks. I bet they would keep my feet warm when doing farm chores in the winter.
Cara´s last blog ..Farm Days and Farm Growth
December 16th, 2009 at 8:59 am
I blogged about your give away:
http://lifewithalpacas.blogspot.com/
December 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am
I put an entry on my blog about it
Cara´s last blog ..Alpaca Hat Giveaway
December 16th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I’d have to say the Berkshires Wrap Jacket (in Tartan Red) is my favorite item, although that Fuzzy Snowflake sweater was a close second!
Very tempted by the socks, as well.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Tweeted for another chance! (http://twitter.com/Micrathene/status/6737657081)
@Micrathene´s last blog ..Tweet, Chirp
December 16th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Are you kidding me? Only one item?? The Camden Jacket is fabulous and the Summit half zip is great too! It is cold in Minnesota so anything that is warm, cute and comfortable is my favorite. But, if I only could have one item, it would probably be the Garter T-Neck. The adorable Summit beanie would make me stylish though!
December 16th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Pick one item?! If I had to: The Ridgeport Zip Hoodie. Thankfully, I don’t have to pick just one in real life!
December 16th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
The Sea Breeze Handwoven Shawl would be on my wishlist. Love it! But it WAS hard to choose.
Maureen ´s last blog ..Lesser known kefir facts
December 17th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Sea Breeze Handwoven Shawl is beautiful! Every day I wear shawls, they are a wardrobe staple, just as are scarves. The eco-vest shown on your site is lovely, especially in blue and the Elmer hat is too cute!
December 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Oh, I am loving that vest! I’m off to tweet!
Holly B Snotty!´s last blog ..Scarfy in Florida…
December 17th, 2009 at 11:17 am
The Berkshires Wrap Vest looks comfy and cozy to me! That’d be a great addition to my fall wardrobe.
http://www.redmaplesportswear.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=83
December 17th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Been tweeting daily to let the Twitter world know about the Wonder of Red Maple…incidentally, I’m wearing my black Red Maple crew socks I bought last year! My toes are tootsy warm on this freezing cold Michigan afternoon.
Wonder Why Gal´s last blog ..Alpacas, Christmas and Bears, Oh My!
December 17th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I love the blue sweater in your post! And from their site I think the Eco vest is cool- hubs would love it- and the hand woven shawls are beautiful!
I will be tweeting!!! It’s beginning to feel like Xmas
with another fabulous alpaca farm girl giveaway!!!! Whooohooo
December 18th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Lovely stuff! My fav item at the moment is “Alpaca Copper TrailBlazer 2″ socks…they look amazing.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Reposted to FB – http://www.facebook.com/elionwyr
December 18th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I am in love with the Alta Boucle’ Handwoven Plaid throw. I absolutely love to have a throw over me, even in July (that just means you have to keep the house cooler)!
December 18th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I love the striped elmer hat. It doesn’t really get extremely cold where I live, but I’d wear the hat anyway!
annalene´s last blog ..Bubble Necklace – yay or nay?
December 19th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I love the womens Camden Jacket-very smart looking.
December 19th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I love the fuzzy snowflake earflap hat! I like the knee high socks, too. Thanks for the giveaway!
Beatrice´s last blog ..2009 was anxious!
December 19th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I cannot narrow it down to one, so here’s my list:
Alta Boucle’ Stratton Jacket
Fuzzy Snowflake Earflap Hat
Every single scarf and set of socks
The men’s Bucksport Half Zip Pullover (wish it was in smaller sizes, though)
Men’s Half Pipe Half Zip
Alta Boucle’ Handwoven Solid Throw
Wonderful products – hope to have a better year next year and be able to get some of these products for loved ones (and myself!)
December 19th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I love the half pipe waffle beanie vbarton24 at gmail dot com
vickie b´s last blog ..the year is almost over . it sure went quick
December 19th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
I twittered http://twitter.com/morgaine24/status/6847376987 vbarton24 at gmail dot com
vickie b´s last blog ..the year is almost over . it sure went quick
December 19th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
blogged http://vickiescontestblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/alpaca-farm-girl-knit-alpaca-hat.html
vickie b´s last blog ..the year is almost over . it sure went quick
December 19th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
The seabreeze handwoven shawl in bronze is beautiful!!
December 19th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I have to say that the Paca Monkeys are pretty darn cute! I’m not really a shawl person, but the seabreeze handwoven shawl looks so pretty!!!!
I RT’d (HisTechnoAngel on twitter).
December 19th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
TweeT
December 19th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
The winner is Vicki (entry # 28 chosen by random.org) Congratulations Vickie!