Jacques Cartier Vicuna Yarn

It doesn't get any better than this!  Vicuna Yarn is extremely rare and special.  Vicuna is one of two wild South American camelids which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes.  It is a relative of the llama, and is now believed to be a wild ancestor of alpacas.  Vicunas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every 3 years.  When knit, Vicuna Yarn is very soft and warm.  It is understood that the Inca raised Vicuna for their wool, and that it was against the law for anyone other than royalty to wear Vicuna garments. It is an Inca legand that the Vicuna is the reincarnation of a beautiful young maiden who was courted by an ugly, old king.  She would only agree to his advances if he gave her a coat of pure gold- the coat now worn by the Vicuna.

Vicuna Yarn is so popular due to it's warmth and is the finest fiber in the workd due to the fact that the fibers are only 12 microns, finer than cashmere!  It's warming properties come from the tiny scales that are on the hollow air filled fibers.  It causes them to interlock and trap insulating air.  Since Vicuna Yarn is sensitive to chemical treatment, the wool is left in its natural cinammon brown color.

Vicuna fiber is so desirable that some people are willing to pay $1,500 for a Vicuna scarf,  and upwards of  $20,000 for a men's Vicuna coat.