Native Peruvian weaver and Alpaca cria (lamb), Cusco, Peru.

Where the wool comes from and where it goes. This photo shows a native Peruvian woman with an Alpaca Cria (baby Alpaca’s are called “Cria”). She has already spun and dyed the wool and is now weaving it into a fabric that will be used for to make a blanket or clothing. This is the life of a Peruvian Weaver.

Alpaca’s are very similar, and often confused with llamas. Alpaca’s are in general smaller than llama’s but their fur is much finer, softer, and in general is preferred for spinning, weaving, and the making of clothing. Alpaca’s were breed over thousands of years for their wool whereas llama’s were bred over a similar period of time as a pack animal. The alpaca hair is processed much like sheep wool. After sheering and cleaning it is spun into yarn and then dyed with rich colored natural pigments. The Peruvian people have become masters at weaving this Alpaca wool into beautiful and brightly colored fabrics for blankets and clothing.

Canon EOS 7D (Mark I)
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM at 96mm
1/200 sec at f/11 (Av mode, hand held)