Our Alpaca Bedding Philosophy
The alpaca bedding philosophy of Alpaka Appenzell arose directly from our work with alpacas. As alpaca breeders, we witness the exceptional quality of alpaca fibre every day and its wide range of uses.
Early on, we asked ourselves how this valuable natural fibre could be used in a meaningful way. Our goal was not only to obtain raw fibre, but also to develop high-quality products from it.
From the very beginning, it was important to us that as much of the value creation as possible remains in Switzerland. Our alpacas live in the pre-Alpine regions around the Alpstein, where they are kept under natural conditions.
From this idea emerged the concept of developing bedding made from Swiss alpaca fibre – products that preserve the special properties of this fibre while also offering transparent origin. This Alpaca Bedding Philosophy is based on the idea of creating high-quality bedding from Swiss alpaca fibre.
Our Alpacas – The Origin of Our Alpaca Bedding Philosophy
The foundation of our bedding is the fibre of our alpacas. Once a year, the fibre is obtained during shearing and then carefully sorted.
Alpaca fibre is a valuable raw material that must be handled with great care. For us as breeders, it is especially important that this fibre is used meaningfully and is not simply lost as raw material.
The idea of developing bedding from it arose from the desire to create a product that is used every day while also showcasing the unique properties of alpaca fibre.
This is why the journey of our bedding always begins with the animals themselves and the fibre they provide each year.
The Challenge of Processing
However, implementing this idea proved to be more challenging than initially expected.
Compared to other natural fibres, only a relatively small amount of alpaca fibre is produced in Switzerland. Many processing facilities are therefore designed for larger quantities or process alpaca only in blends with other fibres.
For us, one thing was clear: we wanted to create alpaca bedding made from pure Swiss alpaca fibre wherever possible.
A simple solution would have been to send the raw fibre abroad and have the bedding produced there. However, this was not an option for us. We wanted to find a solution in which the fibre is processed as locally as possible and the connection to its Swiss origin is preserved.
The Origin of Best Alpaca Bedding™
Many Swiss alpaca breeders face a similar situation: the quality of alpaca fibre is very high, but the quantities available each year are relatively small. This makes it difficult for individual farms to have products made from it on their own.
For this reason, the idea emerged to combine alpaca fibres from different Swiss farms. By bringing these fibres together, sufficiently large quantities can be created to produce high-quality bedding.
To organise this collaboration, Alpakaland Schweiz GmbH was founded in 2013. It coordinates the collection of alpaca fibres from various Swiss farms, as well as the production and marketing of alpaca bedding.
Alpaka Appenzell was among the first partnersto join this project and has actively contributed to the ideas, direction, and development of the products. Since then, many other alpaca farms have joined this partnership with growing enthusiasm.
This collaboration gave rise to the Best Alpaca Bedding™product line, which includes bedding made from Swiss alpaca fibre.
We also contribute to this joint project with the fibre from our own alpacas.
How the Collaboration Works Today
Today, the production of alpaca bedding is based on a collaboration between several Swiss alpaca farms.
Together with the other partners, Alpaka Appenzell supplies the alpaca fibre for the production of the bedding. The finished products are offered under the Best Alpaca Bedding™ label.
Production, processing, and distribution all take place in Switzerland. This ensures that the entire journey of the fibre remains traceable – from the shearing of the animals to the finished product. In this way, we can personally oversee the path of the fibre and ensure that its quality and origin remain transparent at all times.
By collecting alpaca fibres from different Swiss farms, the raw material is brought together in a meaningful way. This makes it possible to produce bedding in suitable quantities without losing the traceability of the fibre’s origin.
At the same time, this model allows us as alpaca breeders to remain actively involved in the value chain of alpaca fibre.
The collaboration within the project can be summarised simply as follows:
How the Best Best Alpaca Bedding™ Project Works
Swiss alpaca breeders supply the alpaca fibre they obtain each year for the Best Alpaca Bedding™ project.
The fibres are combined and processed together into high-quality bedding.
The finished bedding is offered under the Best Alpaca Bedding™ label.
Purchasing raw alpaca wool
For our Alpaca Bedding™ project , we also purchase raw alpaca fibre from Swiss alpaca owners.
If you are interested in selling your raw alpaca fibre for this project, feel free to contact us to learn more about our terms. You can find more information about alpaca shearing and how to supply alpaca fibre finden Sie here:
Swiss Alpaca Fiber™
The Swiss Alpaca Fiber™ certification mark stands for the origin of Swiss alpaca fibre. Best Alpaca Bedding™ products bearing this label are made from fibres sourced from alpacas living in Switzerland. An independent certification body verifies compliance with the relevant standards. As Swiss alpaca fibre is only available in limited quantities, many of these bedding products are produced in small batches – often as limited editions.
Our Bedding Philosophy at a Glance
Our alpaca bedding is based on the belief that high-quality natural products are built on transparent origin, careful processing, and close collaboration.
Our Key Principles
- Swiss Alpaca Fibre
- Collaboration with Swiss Alpaca Breeders
- Production and Processing in Switzerland
- Transparent Origin through Swiss Alpaca Fiber™
- Small Batch Production Due to Limited Fibre Availability