I am very conscious that more and more consumers want to purchase products that are environmentally sustainable and I am committed to this practice. Llamas, by nature are low impact animals and our herd management, fibre collection and fibre cleaning practices ensure that we maintain the process.
For a more complete picture of why llamas, and Granite Haven Llama Fibre is an environmentally sustainable product, click on one of the headings below.
- Natural characteristics of Llama
No ground compaction
Llamas have soft leather pads and two toes, making them softly trodden, but with a very good grip. A llama lifts one foot at a time whilst walking, leaving the other three to share body load. It has been demonstrated that a 150 kg llama carrying a 30kg pack leaves less impression on the soil beneath it feet than an 80kg human with no pack at all.
Easy to feed
In the paddock, llamas are happy to graze on native pastures and additional feeding is not necessary if the pasture is adequate. When trekking llamas eat a little from each and only pick a few leaves here and there, they do not ravage the bushland.
Disease Resistant
Llamas are resistant to many of the common stock diseases present in Australia. The natural clean skin around their genitilia means that it is not necessary to crutch and they are not prone to fly strike. Also their pelleted, odourless manure causes no contamination of the fibre or body parts. Twice yearly 5 in 1 vaccinations is necessary. Their natural habit of a community dung pile reduces the incidence of intestinal parasites.
Manure
The manure, in the form of odourless pellets, is high in nitrogen, does not need to composite, can be placed on the garden without burning the plants. It has a rating of 4-3-2 of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.
- Characteristics of Llama Fibre and Yarn
Whilst Granite Haven Llama fibre and yarn will be used across a range of textile crafts, I think mainly it will be knitted or woven into garments and apparel and there are many reasons why garments made from llama fibre and yarn are environmentally friendly.
In today's marketplace, consumers are placing an increased emphasis on purchasing products and services having the lowest possible environmental impact. The words "green" and "sustainable" are used with increasing frequency to characterise products and services that have low environmental impact and resource consumption.
When clothing products are evaluated on this basis, their level of environmental impact is surprisingly high. Research indicates clothing can be responsible for as much as 25% of single person emissions (varies with the individual and the climate they live in) when considering all aspects of a garment's lifespan from fibre production, manufacture, distribution, and cleaning, to ultimate disposal. Concerned, conscientious consumers are recognising that the current "disposable clothing" economy is very consumptive and not sustainable. They are opting for higher quality garments that reduce resource consumption to the greatest degree possible through every phase of clothing production and wear.
- Production
- Llama fibre is sustainable because it is produced as a by-product of a natural environment and is harvested with minimal damage to that environment and the llamas that produce it. There is no petroleum consumed as a fibre substrate or energy input in its production.
- Granite Haven llama fibre is hand-shorn , processed chemical free into easy to use rovings, or spun as 8 ply yarn.
- A natural product, llama fibre is biodegradable, eliminating the ultimate disposal problem common to any synthetic fabric whether derived from recycled sources or directly from petroleum.
- Because llama fibre does not require chemicals in processing or production, the industrial impact on the environment is minimal and assures sustainability.
- Maintenance and Longevity
- Being washable, the need for dry cleaning is eliminated as well as the harmful chemicals that process employs.
- The fabric's natural cleanliness requires infrequent laundering using cold water. The garments are quickly dried simply by laying flat. This significantly reduces the water and energy consumption that are part of the washing and drying processes for other fibres, especially cotton. This quality is particularly important as approximately 1/3 of energy consumption/emissions attributed to clothing occurs in washing and drying.
- The fibre performs at an optimal level for the life of the garment. The fabric's performance is a result of the natural properties of the fibre and is not dependent on chemical treatments or coatings. The coatings and treatments common to enhanced fibres (synthetic or natural) can wear off and compromise a garment's function or weaken the fibre and shorten its life.
- Comfort and Appearance
- Llama fibre has a natural softness and low scratch. These qualities eliminate the need for the "super washing" process associated with Merino sheep's wool. This process of treating with chemical agents is required to reduce the itch and shrink common to wool fabrics because of their more prominent scale.
- Llama clothing is naturally hypoallergenic. It is a dry fibre and contains no lanolin so it doesn't have to be subjected to the heavy scouring.
- Because llama fibre provides superior insulation and moisture regulation, the weight and encumbrance of extra layering garments and the clamminess associated with synthetics is eliminated. Not adding, shedding, or carrying layering garments as air temperature fluctuates also saves time and space.
- The llama's natural fibre colour maintains its rich luster for the life of the item produced and eliminates the dyeing process and the dyeing agents it employs
- A comfortable garment is worn preferentially resulting in protracted use until the piece is worn out thus reducing the number of garments purchased over time. The comfort and resilience of these pieces assures they won't be discarded prematurely for the sake of change or diminished appearance.
- Performance
- Care
Llama fibre has a natural cleanliness and resistance to staining that requires less cleaning and maintenance than other fibres. It has a very low level of static electricity so it doesn't attract and hold lint and other types of hair. It is very resilient and maintains its good looks even with frequent wear and/or heavy use. It doesn't mat or pill. Washing a llama fibre garment revitalises and raises the nap of the fabric.
When cleaning is required hand washing is best for both the garment and the environment. For best results:
- Wash the garment separately, by hand in cold or lukewarm water.
- Use mild laundry detergent or shampoo.
- Press out excess water and lay flat, without wrinkles, on a flat, absorbent surface for drying.
- Do not wring wet garment or hang wet garment to dry.
- Do not use hot air or warm dryer cycle for drying.
- Do not use hot or warm water or bleach in the laundering process. Llama fibre has less scale than sheep's wool and is less prone to shrinkage as a result. However, hot water should be avoided. Wrinkles present when wet will take longer to disappear in the course of normal wear and should be taken out early in the drying process by blocking when laying out to dry.
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