Paca Blues – Eco Friendly Blue Jeans
American Alpaca Fiber Federation, LLC, is a Texas-based company owned by Fantasy Farm Alpacas. Fantasy Farm has a large alpaca herd of ARI registered alpacas as well as a non-registered fiber herd. After years of being told that we don’t have a textile mill in the United States able process large amounts of American alpaca fiber, the American Alpaca Fiber Federation found one they could work with in Mexico.
Their focus is on blending alpaca with denim. Denim? Yes, that’s right. They are making alpaca blue jeans. They believe that adding alpaca to denim will make the product even better.
Denim is the #1 selling clothing item IN THE WORLD! More clothing is made out of denim than any other fabric. If in fact the testing and blending of Alpaca and denim is successful, then the market for American Alpaca fiber will truly be one of the largest. – AAFF
In December, AAFF’s product, Paca Blues, made its world debut at the Denim by Premier Vision Show in Paris. The alpaca denim blend is being promoted as the first truly eco-friendly denim. Alpaca’s luster, softness, sustainability and hypoallergenic qualities along with the use of natural dyes make it an earth-friendly fabric that opens the door for endless design possibilities. Click here to see AAFF’s videos from the Paris show.
AAFF’s foray into denim with alpaca fiber has been met with mixed reaction from alpaca breeders in the United States. AAFF has a plan to pay alpaca breeders cash for their fiber, and even to come and pick the fiber up from the participating farms. This pleases breeders who would like to just get cash for their fiber and have it out of their barn/closet. Others would rather see alpaca promoted more as a luxury fiber than as part of denim, which is already widely available.
While blue jeans are certainly not the dream end product of our best fleeces (which give cashmere and even vicuna a run for their money), all alpaca is not created equal. Older animals fleeces become shorter and more coarse. Leg and neck fiber are also harvested that need to be used in other, more serviceable products where softness and length is not a factor.
In the spirit of the International Year of Natural Fibers, I applaud the innovation. If it gets alpaca “out there” and if it works, kudos! AAFF shows gumption with their willingness to solve a problem. Hopefully they will inspire others to come up with a plan for what we can do with our 17 micron, crimpy fleeces.
Leave a comment and tell me what YOU think.
March 6th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Great to see the interest from fellow ‘Eco Friendly’ businesses
October 16th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Hi, there! Just curious to find out, are the denim jeans on the market to purchase in the United States?
Maryellen Coccorese
Lady Day Alpacas
October 19th, 2009 at 4:44 am
I usually love jeans. I am very glad to know your product is eco-friendly. Hope this would run with great success. Thanks for sharing with us.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:25 am
we should always look for eco-friendly products out there to help the environment.”";