The vicuña is the wild ancestor of the alpaca. The vicuña have some of the finest fiber of any of the fiber producing animals in the world. Fiber diameters of 12-14 microns are normal. The vicuña have a guard hair which is coarser than the main fleece. The guard hair is around 25 microns in diameter (which happens to be the average diameter of alpaca fiber). The guard hair is easily removed as it can be pulled out when it sticks out of the shorn fleece. Vicuña can be shorn every 2-3 years depending on the length of the fiber, whereas an alpaca can be shorn every year. The vicuña
has extremely dense fiber.

All vicuña garments come with government certification that it is a legal product. This guarantees that the animal was captured and sheared live, to be returned to the wild for two years before it is rounded up again. High quality garments made from the Peruvian vicuña's fiber are sold under the labels of world's leading fashion houses.

Vicuña fiber is now available once again on the world market, in year 2002 USA government allow vicuña garments to be imported directly from Peru. The Vicuña populations in Peru are now on CITES II (international agreement that allows the commerce of some species that previously were in endangered situation). Current prices for the fine yarns and fabrics made from the fiber ranges from $1800 to $3000 per yard. Typically a man's scarf will fetch $800. It is the wish of the Peruvian government that the prized and pricey fiber will enable continued research into the conservation of the species as well as a source of needed income for the natives on the high lands of Peru.

Paco-Vicuña

Paco-vicuña is a cross between vicuña and alpaca. The alpaca is the domesticated descendant of the vicuña dating back some 5000-6000 years.
About 80% of all alpacas have some llama DNA in their background (note that the llama is descended from the wild guanaco). It is believed that the pollution of the llama DNA into the alpaca blood lines primarily occurred after the Spanish conquest because of social disruption and the priority put on sheep farming. By reintroducing the vicuña into alpaca genetics it create a paco-vicuña with finer fiber than the Alpaca (around 14-16 microns) that retains the properties and value of the vicuña fiber. At the same time have a bit longer fleece than a vicuña and the ability to be shorn more
frequently more like an alpaca.

Paco-vicuña fiber is some of the rarest and finest in the world. It is currently selling for better price than the finest cashmere fiber. Therefore paco-vicuña is only used for luxury goods. With the limited quantities of fiber available, elegant garments are being created by a select group of artisans. Each garment is registered by the Peruvian government authorities that are the only internationally recognized body with the powers to develop this task. They assure quality and purity of the fiber. Paco-vicuña is appropriate for scarves, shawls, vests, ruanas, plus smaller unique items such as hats, cowls, and ear-warmers. The Paco vicuña yarns are smooth and silky. "