Black Ribbed Alpaca Ear Warmer

These cozy, ribbed ear warmer headbands feature two knit layers. Although they are thick and trap warmth, they are extremely lightweight. The perfect everyday accessory for cold winter days. Pair with matching gloves!

Alpaca fiber is considered by the fashion industry to be one the greenest, most natural and softest fibers in the world. It is prized for its unique silky and luxurious feel and has a lesser tendency to pilling. This ear warmer is made on a hand knitting machine by a weaving collective in Peru.

• Material: 43% Baby Alpaca, 43% Wool + 14% Polyamide
• One Size
• Handmade with love in Peru.
• Care: Hand wash cold with mild detergent. Reshape while wet and lay flat to dry.
• As with all handcrafted goods, there are slight variations making each piece a work of art and truly one of a kind.

Allpa has a philosophy: to transform artisans into entrepreneurs. Their home textiles are hand woven in traditional looms by weavers who have kept their traditions from ancient generations.

Most of their artisans start at a small workshop, and they grow with Allpa, as they support them with technical assistance, financial and management support, designs, innovation.

Allpa focus not only on trends, colors and shapes, but also sustainable materials and traditional techniques that can assure permanent jobs for Allpa's workshops: natural fibers, wood, clay, silver, and copper with contemporary twists.

The Social Impact Of Alpacas

Alpaca breeding has always been an important resource for lower income Andean families, as they benefit not only from the fleece, but also from the hide, fur, meat and even manure to be used in agriculture.

Mills have developed a new way of shearing alpacas, much less harmful for the animals, called the Inca shearing, which is successful among breeders because they get more fleece and better fiber.

Techniques used in Allpa textiles

They are hand woven in Andean workshops or hand knitted with domestic machines.

A very few are made in Industrial looms.

Allpa also silkscreen print and dip dye their textiles, embellishing them with embroidery, fringes, tassels and pompoms.

Cleaning Your Alpaca Treasure

When it’s time for a proper wash, hand washing is the gentlest and best method of cleaning your alpaca garments. Here is a set of instructions for hand washing, helping you add plenty more years to the life of your precious alpaca clothing.

1. Use a clean tub or sink and fill with cold water and a small amount of mild liquid detergent or baby shampoo (or any product with a formula for fine fibers).

2. Do not use hot water or even varying degrees of water temperature since this will shock the fibers, causing them to mat together or weaken. You do not need fabric softeners.

3. Soak the clothes for 3 to 5 minutes, gently pressing excess water from the garment. Avoid wringing, twisting, or scrubbing which can cause felting.

4. Rinse the clothes twice in clean, cold water. Always handle them with care to avoid distortion. It’s also normal for dyed garments to bleed. Don’t worry!

5. While supporting the weight of the garment, lay it between two towels, and roll them up to set aside for a few minutes.

6. On a flat surface, place the garment on a dry towel (you may also use a sweater rack) and reshape. Do not hang to dry, and let it dry away from sunlight or other heat sources like radiators. Air-dry naturally only.

7. Once dry, fold it carefully. Never hang your alpaca garments as it can stretch out the fabric. Lay them flat in a drawer or shelf. You may also lightly steam them from a distance or without placing an iron directly on the garment before folding to remove any wrinkles. 

—

Storing Your Alpaca Treasure

Alpaca clothing may be more durable compared to other fabrics, but its greatest enemies are moths, which can cause damage while in storage.

1. Be sure to first clean your garments prior to storing them, since pests are drawn to oils and dirt on fibers.

2. Sealing the garments can help, but do not use plastic or dry cleaning bags. This will lead to a build-up of moisture, causing the fibers to felt.

3. Use clean and breathable pillow cases, paper bags, or shirt boxes to store your clothing. This will allow air to keep circulating through the garments.

4. To guard against moths, use insect-repelling cedar chips or lavender bundles and place them in your storage area.

5. Every month, it is recommended to shake out your garments and leave in bright sunlight. The life cycle of a moth is 21 days, and larvae are strongly repelled by light. When exposed to sunlight, they will fall from your clothing.

Your Purchase Makes 3x Real-World Impacts:

1. Every treasure on our store is socially responsible — ethically produced by artists, makers, crafters and creators paid fair wages in safe and generous working environments.

2. Every treasure has local & sustainable giveback baked in through our partnership with Buy1Give1 — so your purchase directly impacts people's lives, helping communities across the world thrive.

3. Every treasure = 1 tree planted through our partnership with the Eden Reforestation Project — if you purchase 3 treasures, we plant 3 trees, because less isn't always more.

Everything we buy is a vote for the world we want to live in...

Learn More