Slate + Salt - Black Essential Knit Alpaca Beanie

Keep warm and look cool with this perfectly slouchy beanie. Throw it on and scrunch it back for an easy every day accessory. 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 classic beanie is made on a hand knitting machine by a weaving collective in Peru. Material: 70% Baby Alpaca, 23% Polyamide + 7% Wool One Size + Unisex Color: Black 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. Artisan Profile Allpa has 80 small to midsize workshops located throughout Peru. Through their textile production, they strive to create awareness and preserve Peruvian culture. Allpa develops annual collections according to market trends and supports the growth of artisans with technical assistance, training and loans. This transforms weavers into entrepreneurs and gives them access to the global marketplace. In the earliest Peruvian history, you will find examples of the bond between the Incas and alpaca. During the Inca empire, alpaca was only used by royalty because it was valued as the finest material. Alpaca is supple and smooth to the touch. It’s softer than cashmere and warmer and stronger than lamb’s wool. It contains microscopic air pockets which create lightweight clothing with excellent insulating properties. It is a completely natural fiber and there is no use of harsh chemicals in production. The alpaca live mostly without any boundaries in the highlands of the Peruvian Andes and are not harmed during the shearing process. Their soft padded feet are gentle on the grass terrain and they graze without destroying the root system of the area. Alpaca is the only animal that produces up to 28 natural colors and can be blended into an infinite array of natural shades from inky black to warm chestnuts and snowy white. It is easily dyed in any color and always retains its natural luster.