As the ancestor of the modern-day alpaca & close cousin to the guanaco, vicuña are known as the “bearers of the golden fleece” for good reason. Vicuña is the rarest and finest hair fiber available in the world; these animals live only in the upper altitudes of the Andes Mountains. Since each animal produces only about 4 ounces of harvest-able fiber each year, that also adds to its rarity. Vicuña fiber is amazingly soft and since the fiber is sensitive to chemical treatment, vicuña yarn is left in its natural color - a spicy cinnamon shade.

Vicuña were nearly hunted to extinction because of their fleeces, but in 2002 a certification process was developed to ensure that vicuña fiber was legally obtained. Vicuña are rounded up, sheared alive, returned to the wild & then not sheared again for at least another two years. Windy Valley’s vicuña is imported from Peru following these strict guidelines & meets all certification standards.