Origin of our wool

No other country has more alpacas than Peru. With more than four million animals, 80% of the world's alpaca population can be found in this special Andean country. Alpacas, with their friendly, lovable nature are not only beautiful to look at, but they also provide a livelihood for more than 120,000 families in the Andean regions who have been processing this warmest wool into clothing for generations. From alpaca breeding to the extraction and processing of the wool, knowledge has always been passed down from one generation to the next. Alpacas and llamas are closely linked to the country's culture. The South American camels are considered sacred animals that, then as now, play an important role in ceremonies for "Mother Earth" (Spanish: Pachamama or Madre Tierra).

Today, alpaca fiber is a flagship product of Peru, similar to Peruvian Pima Cotton or the highly esteemed Peruvian cuisine. It is also assumed that the highest quality alpaca wool comes from Peru. The quality level of neighboring countries such as Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador is often not on par with the wool from Peru. This is due to a long tradition of producing alpaca wool and manually sorting out the different qualities. Peru has long developed a considerable knowledge advantage over its neighboring countries. Visionaries such as the founder of Michell, Frank W. Michell, recognized the potential of the noble fiber and brought it from Peru to the whole world.

The history of the Michell Group began about a century ago and is strongly influenced by the vision of the founder Frank W. Michell. He traveled to Peru for the first time in 1922. From the very first moment he was fascinated by the alpaca animals and their soft, shiny wool. In 1931, at the age of 35, Frank W. Michell founded the company Michell & Co. with the vision of helping to shape the textile tradition of the Andes. 14 years later, the first spinning mill was opened, laying the foundation for the Peruvian alpaca textile industry. In 1987, the pioneer Frank W. Michell died at the age of 90. Seven years earlier, he handed over the management of the company to his son Michael Michell, who has continued his father's vision ever since.

Today, Michell is a name all over the world, known for their wool (yarns) and high-quality clothing made from alpaca and vicuña. A pioneer back then, Michell is now a leader in the alpaca textile industry and represents Peru's textile heritage like no other company. Michell covers the entire value chain, from alpaca breeding to yarn production to the sale of high-quality alpaca clothing in various online shops, their local stores and to resellers from all over the world. Michell's well-known sub-brands include the clothing stores Incalpaca, Sol Alpaca, Patapampa and Alpaca Factory Outlet. These can be found especially in the tourist areas of Peru, such as Cusco, Arequipa and Lima.