“Baby Alpaca” refers to the fineness of the alpaca wool—not the age of the animal—and is one of the softest grades of alpaca wool, most often compared to Merino wool in feel. Softer, lighter, and warmer than sheep’s wool, baby alpaca wool is naturally water-repellent and a thermal insulator, even when wet. Because alpaca wool contains no lanolin, it’s also hypoallergenic and can be worn next to the skin (it doesn’t cause that “scratchy” feeling in those sensitive to regular wool products). Over 80% of alpaca wool comes from Peru, supporting over 50,000 families living in the Andes mountains; it is widely considered one of the most eco-friendly natural fibers.