what is vicuna fabric

Vicuña fabric is a luxurious material made from the hair of the South American vicuña, a member of the camelidae family. Vicuña wool is considered the rarest and most expensive legal wool in the world, with the second smallest fiber diameter of all animal hair. The wool is incredibly fine, twice as fine as the finest sheeps fiber, and is covered in tiny interlocking scales which trap air, making it an ideal choice for clothing. Vicuña fabric is lightweight, soft, and has defensive properties against the cold, unlike any other fabric. The sorted and spun yarn trades at about $300 per ounce, and it is usually processed in its natural color, as the structure of vicuña hair suffers from bleaching or dyeing. In its pure, classic form, vicuña is most often used for scarves or sweaters, or tailored into overcoats or sport jackets. However, some mills have begun to blend other fabrics into vicuña, increasing its wearable possibilities. Ready-to-wear vicuña garments are the almost exclusive preserve of Loro Piana, which utilizes the rarified yarn across dozens of styles including rain-resistant coats, turtlenecks, and even polo shirts.