Gray Loop Knit Alpaca Beanie

Keep warm and look cool with this perfectly slouchy Gray Loop Knit Alpaca Beanie. This beanie features a subtle ribbed stripe and is knitted with a super soft loop alpaca thread. It pairs perfectly with the Minimalist Alpaca Gloves and the Loop Stripe Alpaca Scarf. Throw it on and scrunch it back for an easy everyday accessory!

Alpaca fiber is considered by the fashion industry to be one of the greenest, most natural, and softest fibers in the world. It is prized for its unique silky and luxurious feel and has a lesser tendency to pilling. This soft loop beanie is HANDMADE on a hand-knitting machine by a weaving collective in Peru. As with all handcrafted goods, there are slight variations making each piece a work of art and truly one of a kind.

This product is made by SLATE + SALT, a brand dedicated to bringing a curated collection of modern, one-of-a-kind pieces while preserving traditional techniques and supporting the Fair Trade movement. They work closely with small social enterprises to facilitate dignified working opportunities in areas of extreme poverty giving a positive impact on rural artisans in underdeveloped nations to support their families and continue to live in their own communities. Fairtrade restores dignity to the artisans and assists women to become role models to their communities. Economic empowerment gives them the opportunity to stay in their villages and they will be less likely to migrate to urban areas.

Specifically for this scarf, they cooperate with a group of 80 small to midsize workshops located throughout Peru. Through their textile production, they strive to create awareness and preserve Peruvian culture. They develop annual collections according to market trends and support the growth of artisans with technical assistance, training, and loans. This transforms weavers into entrepreneurs and gives them access to the global marketplace.

In the earliest Peruvian history, you will find examples of the bond between the Incas and alpacas. During the Inca empire, alpaca was only used by royalty because it was valued as the finest material. Alpaca is supple and smooth to the touch. It’s softer than cashmere and warmer and stronger than lamb’s wool. It contains microscopic air pockets which create lightweight clothing with excellent insulating properties. It is a completely natural fiber and there is no use of harsh chemicals in production.

The alpaca lives mostly without any boundaries in the highlands of the Peruvian Andes and are not harmed during the shearing process. Their soft padded feet are gentle on the grass terrain and they graze without destroying the root system of the area. Alpaca is the only animal that produces up to 28 natural colors and can be blended into an infinite array of natural shades from inky black to warm chestnuts and snowy white. It is easily dyed in any color and always retains its natural luster.