Alpaca Gaining Ground on Cashmere According to Luxury Knitwear Designer

UK (PRWEB) July 30, 2008 -- Some 18,000 alpacas are registered within the UK and more and more people now chose 100% baby alpaca (http://www.samanthaholmes.com) yarn over cashmere. The Samantha Holmes alpaca brand, launched in 2003, has seen a huge increase in alpaca appreciation - the range has quadrupled and is now stocked by over 300 trade customers throughout the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, Australasia, US and Japan. The increasing popularity of baby alpaca comes as no surprise to Samantha Holmes.

For ultimate softness, Samantha has selected purest baby alpaca which is fibre from young and extremely fine haired alpaca. Its hollow fibre makes it weightlessly warm so ideal for Summer or Winter. With no lanolin content or "prickle factor", it is suitable for babies and sensitive skins. It is up to 30% warmer than the same weight of Merino wool and up to 4 times harder wearing. Good quality alpaca does not pill or ball like some cashmere sweaters (http://www.samanthaholmes.com/what_is_alpaca.php) can and springs back when squashed so does not crease easily. The fleece comes in at least 22 different natural colours so Samantha Holmes avoids using dyes in many of her products to retain the natural beauty of Alpaca.

Based near Loch Lomond, the business continues to focus on exclusivity, versatility, simplicity, comfort, purity and luxury in all its products. Each item is beautifully made and hand finished by skilled Artisans in Peru. Alpaca products include womens hats and gloves (http://www.samanthaholmes.com/alpaca-fashion-accessories-c-1.html) , lacey wraps, fingerless gloves, stripey bedsocks, and ankle warmers. Designer baby gifts (http://www.samanthaholmes.com/alpaca-tiny-feet-collection-c-2.html) include irresistible alpaca fur baby yeti boots, chunky knit shawls, cableknit ponchos and fingerless mittens for newborn babies.

Accessories for home interiors are also featured on the website. The Samantha Holmes homeware collection includes alpaca rugs, cushion covers (http://www.samanthaholmes.com/alpaca-homewares-collection-c-3.html) and bed throws.

Unlike many cashmere products now manufactured in China, Samantha Holmes' range is entirely handcrafted by small producer groups mainly in the poorer, rural communities of the Peruvian Andes where Alpaca has been spun and woven for hundreds of years. With the wellbeing of her artisans firmly in mind, Samantha Holmes is currently in the process of formalising her fair trade aims and expects to gain membership of BAFTS in the near future.

Editor's Notes:

Samantha Holmes developed her interest in luxury fabrics and traditional craftsmanship while working for a small international importer of cashmere from Nepal. After travelling to Peru and making contacts with small producer groups, Samantha launched her own Alpaca label in May 2003. She has taken a creative slant on the fibre moving away from the more rustic ethnic designs associated with South American crafts and concentrating on classic, universally appealing designs.

Samantha now works with a network of some 500 hand-knitters. She is committed to fair trade and visits the producers each year to ensure that they are fairly remunerated and work in good conditions. Each worker normally knits for no more than 4 to 5 hours a day.

Web : www.samanthaholmes.com

Email : mail @ samanthaholmes.com

Tel : +44 (0) 1436 676777

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