Although we are still figuring out what it is about the year 2020 that feels so futuristic, we can now say with a smile that 2019 was U.S. Alpaca’s best year yet. 

The trends from 2018, which included increased interest in Natural Fibers, U.S. based manufacturing, Slow Fashion, and Buying Local all continued to help push the demand for U.S Grown, U.S. Made Alpaca products to new heights.

On top of those existing tailwinds continuing to gain steam, the rising popularity of Agritourism, Experiential and Pop Up Retail, Regenerative Agriculture and the growing brand of the Alpaca itself are all making the future look bright.

In our biased opinion, alpacas may just become the definitive symbol of these growing ideas and movements. Treading lightly on the earth with its padded feet, grazing and digesting efficiently, consuming less water, requiring no pesticides, and producing a fiber that doesn’t require caustic processing are just the tip of the eco-friendly iceberg that is all things U.S. Alpaca.

On top of that, it’s a great natural fiber with some amazing attributes that all lend their hand in making some wonderful products.

The growing demand for U.S. Grown, U.S. Made Alpaca products are not without its challenges in the years to come. To continually succeed in meeting the growing demand for the finished goods, we need to work together, both nationally and regionally to:

• Continue to grow the national supply of usable, quality alpaca fiber that enters production soon after harvest.

• Effectively communicate U.S. Alpaca’s value proposition and worth in an increasingly noisy, splintered marketplace.

• Utilize regional alpaca networks to reduce costs associated with fiber transportation, harvest, husbandry, and feed. 

• Work with other regional livestock and agricultural sectors to find common ground and touch points. 

Alpacas have now been in the United States for over 36 years and the demand for finished goods made from their fiber has never been higher. These exciting challenges to consider and tackle in the years to come will help solidify U.S. Alpaca as a leader in the growing natural fiber renaissance.

By increasing efficiency through collaborative efforts, we can keep grower costs down, increase margins on fiber grown and products brought to market, and make alpaca farms more sustainable in the years to come.

Thank you for supporting the Fiber Pool over the last 23 years and making 2019 U.S. Alpaca’s best year yet. We look forward to growing and evolving alongside your businesses in the years to come.

Happy New Year, Welcome to the Future!