A South American relative of the camel, the Alpaca lives in the Andean highlands under extreme climatic conditions at elevations of 4000 to 6000 meters (13,000 to 20,000 ft). On a single day, the animal may be exposed to snow, hail, rain, a burning sun, and nightly temperatures that could reach minus 30 Celsius (-22F).
But nature has prepared it well: a silky, glowing, unusually fine but nonetheless sturdy and elastic hair protects it from the harsch environment. Alpaca fiber is not only very thin, it is also straiter, and has a smoother surface than sheep’s wool, which explains why alpaca doesn't pill, and why alpaca garments keep their shape well.
