Skip to the content Vicuña : The Gold of the Andes
In the world of textiles, there is no higher peak than Vicuña. Known as the “Fiber of the Gods,” it is the rarest, finest, and most sought-after fleece on Earth. To own a piece of Vicuña is to own a piece of ancient history and extreme natural rarity.
In the 1960s, the Vicuña was nearly hunted to extinction, with fewer than 6,000 animals remaining. Thanks to strict international laws and the return of the ancient Chaccu tradition, the population has recovered.
Today, purchasing certified Vicuña supports the indigenous Andean communities who protect these wild animals. Every genuine Vicuña garment comes with a government-issued certificate of authenticity, ensuring it was sourced ethically and legally.
High in the freezing, windswept peaks of the Andes Mountains (13,000+ feet above sea level), lives the Vicuña—a delicate, wild relative of the alpaca. To the Inca Empire, these animals were sacred. They were never killed; instead, they were captured in a communal royal hunt called the Chaccu, shorn of their golden fleece, and released back into the wild. Only the Sapa Inca (the Emperor) and his royal family were permitted to wear garments made from this fiber. To anyone else, it was strictly forbidden.
In the world of textiles, there is no higher peak than Vicuña. Known as the “Fiber of the Gods,” it is the rarest, finest, and most sought-after fleece on Earth. To own a piece of Vicuña is to own a piece of ancient history and extreme natural rarity.
In the 1960s, the Vicuña was nearly hunted to extinction, with fewer than 6,000 animals remaining. Thanks to strict international laws and the return of the ancient Chaccu tradition, the population has recovered.
Today, purchasing certified Vicuña supports the indigenous Andean communities who protect these wild animals. Every genuine Vicuña garment comes with a government-issued certificate of authenticity, ensuring it was sourced ethically and legally.
High in the freezing, windswept peaks of the Andes Mountains (13,000+ feet above sea level), lives the Vicuña—a delicate, wild relative of the alpaca. To the Inca Empire, these animals were sacred. They were never killed; instead, they were captured in a communal royal hunt called the Chaccu, shorn of their golden fleece, and released back into the wild. Only the Sapa Inca (the Emperor) and his royal family were permitted to wear garments made from this fiber. To anyone else, it was strictly forbidden.
What makes Vicuña so special that it can cost ten times more than the finest cashmere?
Impossible Fineness
The diameter of a Vicuña fiber is roughly 12 microns (a human hair is about 75 microns). It is so fine that the scales on the fiber are nearly invisible, resulting in a texture that feels like a “warm cloud” against the skin.
Nature’s Rarest Yield
A Vicuña can only be shorn once every three years. Each animal produces only about 500 grams (1.1 lbs) of wool per shearing. After cleaning and sorting, this leaves only a tiny amount of usable fiber. It takes the wool of approximately 30 animals to create a single overcoat.
The Signature Color
Vicuña is almost always presented in its natural cinnamon-golden hue. Because the fibers are so delicate, they can be damaged by chemical dyes. Most luxury houses choose to leave the fabric in its natural state to honor its origin.
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