All Things Alpaca Ecuador produces exclusive garments from select alpaca fiber–without harming the endangered Andean (spectacled) bear or other wildlife that share the land.
 
Alpacas are a hardy and handsome livestock of the Andes adapted to high-altitude pastures and páramo grasslands. Owner Patricia Espadero and her husband Stuart White use all non-lethal methods to reduce alpaca losses from the predation of pumas, bears and Andean foxes. They conserve the extensive cloud forests and páramos on their property, and are engaged in ecological restoration of former pastures and degraded woodlands.  Because the native habitats of their ranch in southeastern Ecuador form part of Sangay National Park, they hope that their approach to conservation and wildlife-friendly production will be adopted by other residents in the National Park and the region.
 
Husbandry practices include free-range pasturing, periodic check-ups and parasite controls, and genetic selection for improved fiber fineness. The result is a high-quality yarn produced in an environmentally sustainable way, incorporating traditional Andean textile practices. All Things Alpaca Ecuador partners with local designers and a local women’s knitting cooperative to produce an exclusive collection of alpaca sweaters, scarves, hats and king-sized blankets, plus wooly chaps and saddle blankets for horse enthusiasts.

Photo courtesy Aaron Johanson