I’m delighted to share that Alpaca Apparel has been featured in West London Living’s “What I Know About Style” series. They asked about my move from 30 years of modelling to designing, the herd that started it all, and what conscious luxury really means. You can read the full feature here.
It started with the alpacas
Alpaca Apparel began in 2021, when we sheared our animals for the first time. I couldn’t believe how much beautiful fleece came off them, or that nobody was doing anything with it. That made me ask why we import alpaca from South America when we could show what British fibre can do. We began with nine huacayas in 2020, and the herd has since grown to 38, now including suri alpacas, grazing in our New Forest fields.
From the alpaca to the apparel
That line is meant literally. The fleece comes from our own herd and from friends nearby in the New Forest. It is milled at Two Rivers Mill, a small family-run mill in Northern Ireland, and knitted at the Knit Design Centre in Leicester. Every piece can be traced back to the alpacas that grew the fibre, with nothing hidden. For me, that is what conscious luxury means.
Small runs, made to be kept
We make just 20 pieces per design. That means no deadstock and nothing wasted, and it keeps every step of the chain close and accountable. It also makes each piece rare. We want you to buy less but better, and keep it for life. If you’re looking for an alpaca wool jumper or wrap that will last, this is how we make ours.
A very different kind of runway
Making my London Fashion Week debut was surreal after years of walking runways in the 90s. Seeing The Lounge Suit move down the runway exactly as I’d imagined it was a real pinch-me moment. The wraps remain our most popular pieces, and the one I never leave home without.
What’s next
Gifting season is nearly here, and the colder weather always brings a rush of requests for our alpaca wraps. We’ll keep promoting British alpaca fibre and telling our story to a wider audience, while keeping the brand small and exclusive: honest, quietly rare and rooted in the herd.
FAQs
Is alpaca fibre the same as wool?
Strictly, no. Wool comes from sheep, while alpaca fibre grows on alpacas. It is widely called alpaca wool, and it is soft, warm and naturally lightweight.
Where is Alpaca Apparel made?
Our fleece comes from our New Forest herd and local friends. It is milled at Two Rivers Mill in Northern Ireland and knitted at the Knit Design Centre in Leicester.
Why do you limit production to 20 pieces per design?
It means we only make what will be loved, with no deadstock. It also keeps our small annual fleece harvest and the whole supply chain accountable.