The fibre
How is alpaca different from sheep's wool?
Alpaca takes up less moisture than sheep's wool — around 8 percent regain against roughly 16 — so it feels less clammy through the day and dries faster afterwards. At the same micron it also sits smoother against the skin. Whether that makes it better depends what you want it for: wool is more elastic and harder wearing, which is exactly why our socks are blends rather than pure alpaca.
Will alpaca irritate my skin the way wool does?
What makes a fibre prickle is its diameter, not the animal it came from. Above roughly 30 microns, fibres of any kind start triggering the nerve endings that cause the itch. Fine alpaca sits well below that line, which is why people who can't wear a coarse wool jumper often get on fine with it — the fineness is doing the work, not the species. A coarse alpaca sock will prickle exactly like a coarse wool one.
We can't promise it will suit everyone and we don't make allergy claims. If you know you react to wool, buy one pair of socks and find out before you buy more.
How warm is it, really?
Warm — and we'll leave the adjectives there. The honest version is that warmth in a finished garment comes from how fine the fibre is and how it's knitted, not from anything mysterious about alpaca itself.
The Ultimate Boot Sock is our heaviest gauge and is built for genuinely cold days. The Health Sock and the No Show are lighter and work across more of the year. Match the weight to what you're doing and you'll be comfortable.
What we can say from measurement is that alpaca takes up less water before it starts to feel damp, and dries faster afterwards.
What does micron mean, and why do you publish it?
Micron is the average thickness of the fibre, and it is the single best predictor of how something will feel. Under 20 micron is next-to-skin soft. Most sellers will tell you a fleece is soft; we publish the laboratory number for each animal, along with standard deviation, comfort factor and staple length. Every figure on our fleece pages comes from a test, not an estimate.
What won't you claim?
You'll see alpaca sold on some big promises: that the fibre is hollow and traps air, that it regulates your body temperature, that it's a set percentage warmer than wool. We don't use any of them, because they don't survive scrutiny — the Australian Alpaca Association's own fibre booklet describes the hollow-fibre insulation claim as without foundation.
What we will stand behind: it's fine, it holds less moisture than sheep's wool, it dries quickly, and it wears well. That's enough.
Is every alpaca product unique?
Natural fibre varies. Colour, texture and handle differ slightly between batches and between animals, and undyed fibre varies most of all. That is a feature of the material rather than a fault.
Ordering and delivery
How long will my order take to arrive?
It depends on the item, and we say which on every product page.
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In stock — dispatched from Mulgoa, NSW and with you in about 3 to 5 business days.
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Made to order — allow 3 to 4 weeks. These pieces are knitted in Peru and held by our supplier in the United States. We don't warehouse them, so we place the order the day you buy and it ships direct to you.
If an order contains both, the in-stock item may arrive first. If anything is going to run late we will email you rather than leave you wondering.
Why don't you hold stock of everything?
Because we are a farm, not a warehouse. Holding every colour and size of every garment would mean tying up money in stock that may never sell, and writing off what doesn't. Made to order means nothing is produced for us to discount at the end of the season. The trade-off is that you wait a few weeks, and we would rather be straight with you about that up front than surprise you after checkout.
Do you ship Australia-wide?
Yes. Shipping is free on orders over $100.
What if it isn't right?
You have 30 days. Send it back unworn and with tags and we will refund or exchange it. For a change of mind the return postage is yours; if the item is faulty or not what was described, it is ours. Nothing here limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
Where it comes from
Where are your products made?
Three different answers, and we keep them separate on purpose.
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Our own fibre — the raw fleece, carded fibre and yarn come off our own herd at Mulgoa, NSW, shorn once a year.
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The Alpaca Health Sock — knitted in Australia.
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The knitwear, scarves, throws and most socks — knitted in Peru, where alpaca has been spun for centuries and where the best mills for this fibre still are. That stock is held by our supplier in the United States and ships from there.
Do you sell raw fleece for spinning?
Yes. Whole fleeces off named animals from our own herd, plus carded bumps and undyed yarn. Each fleece page carries its measured micron, standard deviation, comfort factor and staple length. Alpacas are shorn once a year, so when a fleece sells there is no restock until the next clip. Our next shearing is 12 September 2026.
Are your alpacas treated well?
They are our animals and we live with them. Shearing happens once a year and is necessary for the health of the animal — an unshorn alpaca is at real risk of heat stress through an Australian summer.
Looking after it
How do I wash alpaca?
Socks are machine washable in cold water; lay them flat to dry. Knitwear, scarves and throws are hand wash in cold water with a wool-safe detergent, or dry clean — check the individual product page. Avoid bleach, hot water and the tumble dryer.
How should I store it?
Folded, in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Use a breathable bag for long storage and don't hang knitwear on a hanger — it will stretch at the shoulders.
Can I wear alpaca socks in work boots?
Our boot socks are built for warmth and comfort through a long day inside a boot. What they aren't built for is daily grinding abrasion in a steel-cap — alpaca is a fine fibre and it won't survive that the way a synthetic work sock will. Keep a cheap pair for the worst jobs.
About us
Why buy from Black Regal Alpacas?
Because we farm the animals. Most alpaca sold in Australia is imported by people who have never touched a live one. We breed, shear and test our own herd at Mulgoa, we publish the laboratory numbers rather than adjectives, and we will tell you when a product isn't right for what you want it for.
Do you sell alpacas?
Yes, a small number each year — stud males, pregnant females and pet wethers. It isn't a shopping-cart purchase. Get in touch and we will talk you through what is available, what it costs to keep them, and whether your paddock suits.
