June 10, 2020 2 min read
Alpacas originated from the western Alto Plano (high plains) of the Andes mountains, which are over 4,000 metres high with extreme climatic variations with hot summer days and very cold winter nights.
Over thousands of years, alpacas have adapted to these harsh climatic conditions, especially with regards to the evolution of their ‘double fleece’.
Alpacas have a ‘double fleece’ which is actually two distinctly separate fibres, an inner fleece and an outer guard hair which work in tandem to protect the animal in all climatic conditions. In summer it provides cooling, in winter it provides warmth.
The excellent thermal properties which have evolved over thousands of years make alpaca fleece unique.
The inner layer of ultra soft, semi hollow fibres next to the alpaca’s skin is exceptionally soft and lightweight. This provides excellent thermal properties to cool the animal in very high altitude hot summer days. For very cold winter nights the inner fleece insulates and warms the animal.
The outer alpaca fibres, guard hairs, are characterized by their high micron (thickness) and little crimp, are neither being desirable in bedding products as they add weight but little warmth value.
After the shearing of an alpaca, the soft inner fleece and the coarse outer guard hairs are intermingled.
Guard fibres add weight without any corresponding warmth and they are the primary cause of “fibre migration”, where the alpaca guard fibres can migrate through a quilts outer cover.
It is therefore very important to remove the outer guard hairs so they are not included in a quilt’s filling.
Kelly & Windsor uses a proprietary “MicroCombed” fibre process to separate these two fibres. This is a difficult and slow process, but essential to obtain optimal softness, loft and the thermal performance of an alpaca quilt.
The manufacture of the highest quality alpaca quilts requires extensive experience to effectively separate these two fibre types, so that only the soft inner fleece is used in filling an alpaca quilt.
Quality that you can trust from Kelly & Windsor Australia.
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August 22, 2023 2 min read
August 07, 2023 1 min read
We are exhibiting at Heimtextil in Frankfurt Germany on 9th to 12th January 2024.
Heimtextil is the world's premier trade fair event for home textiles and we will be in hall 11.0 stand B22 with our full range of Australian made natural fibre bed quilts, duvets, pillows and underblankets.
November 25, 2022 2 min read
We have developed a unique BMI matrix to assist customers in buying an alpaca quilt which is best matched their personal sleeping needs.
It's a very simple and clever guide. Our customers love it. Try it out when you are selecting your next quilt or call us.
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