What Is the Most Expensive Wool? (It's Not Alpaca)

People often think that alpaca woolen products are expensive—I did, too! But, now I know better… Alpaca wool is actually not all that expensive. In fact, what’s the most expensive wool if it is not alpaca?!

Vicuña is the most expensive wool on earth. Raw vicuña fleece costs between $400 and $600. As a finished fiber, vicuña yarn costs over $10,000 per kilo. Sweaters can cost anywhere between $4,000, and $9,000, and scarves between $3,000 and $7,000. Vicuña coats can cost up to $31,000. 

On top of being the most expensive fiber, vicuña is also one of the rarest and softest fibers on this planet. Let’s dive into all those reasons why this fiber is so precious. 

How Expensive Is Vicuña? 

From raw fleece to final products, vicuña fiber—and thus products made with it—are through-the-roof-expensive. I found these prices on Google and marketplaces and compiled the table myself. 

How Does the Price of Vicuña Compare to Other Fibers? 

Vicuña wool is the most expensive fiber available, and the “next most expensive” fiber is “only” half the price. 

• Vicuña wool is twice as expensive as qiviut down. 

• Angora wool, which is similar in softness, is “only” worth 10% the price of vicuña.

• Alpaca wool, family of the vicuña, is a lot, lot, lot cheaper. 

Prices Compared: Vicuña vs. Qiviut vs. Angora 

Vicuña is unique, but it's not the only special fiber out there. The closest comparable fibers are qiviut and angora. 

Vicuña and qiviut are similar in terms of exclusivity: both fibers have very limited availability and are super exclusive. Both due to their limited population, but also because of the limited fleece availability. 

• Qiviut down is hand-plucked from the trees that the musk-oxen shed their fur on! 

Angora is similar in softness. However, angora wool has a very different feel: it’s very fluffy and playful, whereas vicuña has a more “sophisticated” vibe to it. Plus, the large-scale production of angora wool jeopardizes the quality, ethicality, and sustainability of angora. 

What Makes Vicuña SO Expensive? 

Vicuña fiber is expensive because it has this combination of being extremely rare, while having super-amazing qualities.

When I’m talking about “vicuña,” I mean this amazing luxury fiber that comes from an animal called a vicuña. Vicuñas are camelids, although they are the rarest and most precious of their kind. 

The Vicuña Was Once Almost Extinct

Not too long ago, vicuñas were on the verge of going extinct. While they were treated as gods under Inca rule (they knew how to appreciate their fibers), decades of unrestricted hunting that followed in Peru pushed this animal close to extinction. 

• Currently, vicuñas are under strict protection and they are carefully monitored. Conservation and reinstatement programs have brought the number of vicuñas in Peru back to a solid 350,000. 

• Vicuñas aren't allowed to be held in captivity, and therefore they need to be caught from the wild before they can be shorn. Obviously, they are released back into the wild after their haircut is done.
  
  
• The Peruvian government has a special labelling system that they use to track the (export) of vicuña wool fibers to prevent poaching and illegal trade. Never buy vicuña that’s not traceable. 

Extreme Limited Availability 

On top of there being only a few number of vicuñas out there, the fleece of the vicuña grows fairly slowly. They can only be shorn once every three years. 

• Check out this awesome mini-documentary from the BBC about how the shearing process goes:

Vicuña Is Softer, Warmer and Lighter Than Most Other Fibers

On top of being extremely rare, vicuñas also produce an extremely luxurious fiber with amazing qualities. 

Vicuña is one of the softest fibers on earth. And, while being extremely light, it is very strong. Thanks to its natural habitat, vicuña is breathable while being warm at the same time. 

The vicuña fiber is generally estimated to have a fiber diameter of about 12 microns. Qiviut down, shahtoosh, and angora wool are the only fibers that have a similar micron range and thus a comparable softness. 

Although incomparable to any other fiber. 

How Does Vicuña Compare to Alpaca? 

Since alpacas are family members of the vicuña they deserve to get a more elaborate comparison. You could say that alpaca is the affordable and more commonly available version of vicuña. 

Vicuña and alpaca fibers are quite similar: 

• They share the same habitat

• Their fleece has similar qualities 

• Products that are made with either fiber have many great features and benefits

• The main difference? The price tag

But, while it works to a certain extent to say that alpaca is the “cheap” version of vicuña, there are some significant differences, too. Because I’m all about alpaca wool, I’ll share with you the main difference in their fiber-features. 

The Analysis

The fact that vicuña only comes in its one natural color is interesting. On the one hand, it is a feature that makes vicuña even more exclusive, but on the other hand, having that wide range of natural colors available is also what makes alpaca wool special. 

That being said, it also makes alpaca wool a sustainable option given that there are many colors available that don’t require dyeing. Now of course, the fact that vicuña wool is never dyed is, of course, also super-super sustainable (because, no chemicals and less waste). But we like to have options, right? 

Alpaca wool is much more accessible than vicuña. Its fleece grows faster and it produces more, which means that the cost is generally lower. Another reason is that it is also a lot less soft.... Especially considering that most alpaca wool has a fiber diameter of 24.5-26.5 microns. 

So while alpaca wool might not be as luxurious as vicuña, it is generally considered one of the better fibers available, especially when you consider its GREAT price-quality ratio. 

Not quite ready to commit to a $10,000 vicuña garment? Check out our Yanantin products: all made with love and 100% alpaca wool.