Alpaca Knitwear: Your New Favourite Winter Fabric

Some jumpers are bought for the colour. Some for the shape. The Blenheim is bought for the feel of the cloth, and this season that begins with alpaca.

The fabrics at the heart of our seasonal Blenheim jumpers and Caradale cardigans - Brady and Flynn Multi - are a blend: 30% alpaca, 22% virgin wool, 45% polyamide, 3% elastane. The alpaca is there for texture and softness - a smooth, silky hand that sits comfortably against the skin, without the prickle you can get from coarser textural wools such as mohair. It also brings warmth without weight, and it recovers from moisture better than most fibres, holding up to around 15% of its dry weight without feeling clammy.

Blenheim Jumper Brady Brown

£249 GBP

Blenheim Jumper Brady Green

£249 GBP

Caradale Cardigan Brady Brown

£269 GBP

Caradale Cardigan Brady Green

£269 GBP

Blenheim Jumper Brady Purple

£249 GBP

Fisher Hat Brady Brown

£85 GBP

Fisher Hat Brady Green

£85 GBP

Fisher Hat Brady Purple

£85 GBP

Graves V Neck Vest Brady Brown

£189 GBP

So why not more of it? Alpaca's signature softness comes from smooth, low-crimp fibre. Sheep's wool gets its bounce and shape-hold from natural crimp; alpaca has less of it, so a pure alpaca knit drapes beautifully but can relax and lengthen over time rather than springing back into shape. Wool restores that spring. Polyamide adds strength and support so the knit keeps its structure through everyday wear, and a touch of elastane helps it hold its shape wash after wash.

Man seated on a wooden bench wearing a brown and purple striped wool jumper with charcoal trousers

Graves V Neck Vest Brady Green

£189 GBP

Graves V Neck Vest Brady Purple

£189 GBP

Soane Scarf Brady Brown

£129 GBP

Soane Scarf Brady Green

£129 GBP

Soane Scarf Brady Purple

£129 GBP

Blenheim Jumper Flynn Multi

£269 GBP

Fisher Hat Flynn Multi

£85 GBP

Graves V Neck Vest Flynn Multi

£210 GBP

Soane Scarf Flynn Multi

£129 GBP

The aim isn't the highest possible alpaca percentage - it's the right balance of softness, texture and structure. Brady and Flynn Multi are 30% alpaca because that's where the character comes through without the garment losing its shape. As well as our crew neck Blenheim jumpers and Caradale cardigans, we've also used the fabrics in our Graves v-neck vests and some winter accessories in the shape of the Soane scarf and Fisher hat.