What "baby alpaca" actually means

The first thing we corrected: baby alpaca has nothing to do with the animal's age. It refers to the fiber itself, the finest grade, measuring roughly 19 to 22 microns in diameter, softer and finer than the coarser grades taken from the same animal later in its life. That's the number that puts it close to cashmere in hand-feel, without the cashmere price.

Why it doesn't itch and why it's hypoallergenic

Alpaca fiber contains no lanolin, the waxy substance found in sheep's wool that causes itching and allergic reactions in a lot of people. We passed samples around so clients could feel the difference directly against a wool swatch, no scratch, no wax residue on the fingers.

Warmer for less weight

We explained the structure: alpaca fiber is semi-hollow, so it traps air inside the strand itself rather than relying on crimp the way wool does. In practice, that means a piece can run about a third lighter than a wool equivalent while measuring roughly 1.3 to 1.5 times warmer. It's also why alpaca knitwear drapes the way it does, less bulk holding the same amount of heat.

Where it comes from

Peru holds close to 80% of the world's alpaca population and remains the largest producer of the fiber globally, herds raised at altitude in the Andes, where the animals themselves evolved the coat we were holding in our hands. This is also where Munay's own fiber is sourced, tying the samples on the table directly back to the brand's supply chain rather than a generic "made in Peru" line.

Hands-on

Clients tried on Munay scarves and wraps directly against their skin to feel the warmth-to-weight difference for themselves, alongside a table of alpaca plush pieces and folded knitwear, a tactile session rather than a lecture, closer to a product walkthrough than a slideshow.