Wealth of the Wild: How Indigenous Animals Have Brought Many Cultures to Prosperity

Various cultures throughout the world still hold on to ancient traditions, practices and artistry as a way to bring prosperity to their people and their community. Those ancient techniques and materials are considered sacred, not only because of the history and the fact that these artistic practices have been passed down for tens of thousands of years, but also because of the wealth that these traditions have brought to those cultures, especially throughout South America.

You might not realize but chances are, many of the gorgeous fabrics in your home and your closet are the product of ancient artistic traditions using fabric from indigenous animals in South America. That heavenly throw blanket you’re snuggling? Alpacas from Peru. That deliciously soft and delicate sweater you adore on a cool day? Llamas from Bolivia. From blankets to upholstery to sweaters, ponchos, tapestries, shoes and more, indigenous animals have brought many cultures to prosperity over the years, and continue to do so, both giving back to their communities and giving consumers handcrafted, luxurious fabrics and goods that cannot be manufactured anywhere else.  

4In Peru, it’s All About the Alpaca

Alpaca Peru BeLatina

While many of us instantly think of cashmere as the softest most luxurious fabric where clothing and upholstery is concerned, there’s another, arguably better material out there, and it comes from Peru. Alpaca fabric was once treasured by Incan royalty for its soft and luxurious texture and beautiful appearance. This natural fiber is light and warm, delicate and durable, silky and soft and also hypoallergenic, making it one of the world’s most sought after and most luxurious fabrics available. It’s also rare, making up only 1% of the luxury fiber in the world.  

Sandra Jordan, the creative talent and entrepreneur behind Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca, has always had a passion for traditional artisan crafts and products developed from long-standing traditions and natural materials. It was with a love of luxury, a desire to give back to her Peruvian roots, and a passion for hand-crafted products that Prima Alpaca was born.

In 2006 she launched Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca, a brand dedicated to creating beautiful products from alpaca fibers, while both preserving ancient techniques and earth-friendly manufacturing of the textile. From raising the alpacas to hand sorting the fibers to weaving the fabric in the Andes, every step of the process of creating Prima Alpaca is executed with the best interests of the animals, the culture, the community and the workers in mind. According to Sandra Jordan’s website, the company “creates jobs for herdsmen and textile workers living in remote areas of Peru.” And this is not just a side effect, but rather an obligation to her roots.

Social responsibility and environmental consciousness are an essential aspect of her company’s mission and her story. In addition to creating the ultimate in luxurious fabric and home design products, Jordan also focuses on meeting the needs of the herders and textile workers. She partnered with a yarn producer and research institute to work together and build sustainable adobe cottages to house herders in remote regions of the Andes, where the alpaca are raised. This allowed her to not only support the local culture, but also harvest fibers from a rare breed of alpaca whose fleece once adorned Incan royalty. “Years of working with partners in Peru to support herdsmen and refine production have finally allowed us access to this unique fiber from the rare Suri alpaca. We are thrilled to now share it with designers,” she said in a feature in Interior Design Magazine.

Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca is more than just a business; it’s a textile brand that simultaneously supports the local economy of her home country while also producing high-quality goods. It’s a brand that is rooted in tradition and personal history as much as it is focused on meeting the needs of a modern consumer base and marketplace. Her business is a sustainable practice that continues to bring prosperity to Peru and all of the workers involved from start to finish.