The first and most important difference is the hollow structure of the alpaca fibre. This structure is common to wool, but alpaca fiber has been shown to contain more and larger air pockets, even compared to merino.

This makes alpaca wool a very effective thermal insulator as well as being lightweight in structure. The more air pockets the better the thermal insulation, even if the material is soaked through.

Unlike sheep's wool, alpaca fiber does not contain lanolin, or wool fat. Lanolin is an allergen that causes wool allergies. Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic and is not known to contain any allergenic substances.

The alpaca is an environmentally conscious animal by nature and, as a semi-wild grazing animal, is part of the natural ecosystem in Peru. When feeding, the alpaca leaves roots in the ground to help the soil and the south-west renew itself more quickly. The animal's soft paws also contribute to the greenery of the plains.

But the most remarkable environmental act is the alpaca's moderate eating habits. The alpaca eats significantly less
than other ruminants and as a result has a smaller carbon footprint in the form of methane emissions.