Alpakin Logo in gold ohne Schrift auf weißem Hintergrund
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Model mit Peruanerin und Alpaka an ihrer Seite trägt LUZ Alpaka Poncho in Cusco, Peru

About us

Warmest alpaca clothes ... limited individual pieces with style instead of mass

This is what makes our Alpaca collection SPECIAL

  • High alpaca wool content for maximum warmth
  • Limited unique pieces with design
  • From small manufacturers & primarily women
  • Sustainable, animal welfare-certified wool
  • Highest quality wool from Peru, the land of alpacas
Carolin Rebhan und Gustavo Gutierrez vor ihrem Alpakin Stand am Lateinamerikanischen Wochenende in Köln

We are Alpakin

Not a large corporation, but two people who love what they do. We know each tailor personally, know where our alpaca wool comes from and design many of our designs ourselves. Because we offer alpaca clothing with style... something special.

Alpakin is quality, comfort, tradition, culture, change, social justice, animal welfare … and passion.
Gustavo mit Maßband in der Hand und Amanda arbeiten an neuem Pullover Modell für den Winter für Alpakin

2022 until today

Our story

We may not yet be able to look back on a 30-year company history, but we have experienced a lot in a short space of time. Like many stories, ours began with a trip - or to be more precise, two trips. The first took Gustavo from Peru to Germany when he decided to leave his old homeland to study in Germany. We met at university. We actually started talking for the first time thanks to alpacas, as he was wearing a T-shirt with an alpaca print. This first conversation developed into a friendship that you don't find every day.

When I heard Gustavo's stories about Peru - from Inca traditions, eating guinea pigs to pink dolphins - I often doubted the truthfulness of them, which is why we decided to travel to Peru together in 2017. Since all the special features of this beautiful country would fill a book, we will limit ourselves to the part that has to do with alpacas and their wool. I first encountered alpacas in the streets of Cusco; for Gustavo, these special animals were as normal as blackbirds in Germany. We began to take a closer look at the wool and quickly learned that in Cusco you can often find synthetic wool sold as alpaca wool. This wonderful trip came to an end after a month, but Peru is a country that you will never forget.

Back in Germany, we quickly returned to everyday life. From university to working life, that was not to be the end of our thirst for adventure. For five years, we traveled the world independently of each other and gained valuable experience in working life... We always carried Peru and alpacas close to our hearts and constantly assured ourselves that we would return one day.

In 2022, I flew to Central America for seven months and Gustavo to Peru for three months. While I was learning Spanish and volunteering in a textile organization in Guatemala, Gustavo started looking for manufacturers of alpaca clothing. After two months of knocking on doors in Cusco and Arequipa, he finally found what he was looking for and we entered into several partnerships with small manufacturers who also agreed to produce our designs in European sizes that are "huge" for Peruvians. Gustavo returned to Germany with a suitcase full of alpaca clothing. Since I was working in marketing at the time and preferred e-commerce, our online shop was quickly set up. In January 2023, I returned from Central America to reality, but this time only part-time, because our belief that Alpakin could become something changed our priorities.

After six months, the travel bug caught me again and so I flew to Cusco in September 2023, giving up my part-time job. The reason for this trip was the difficulty we had in producing the right sizes and the urge to offer a new, better collection this winter. Gustavo and I worked together on site in Peru for two months, and you can see the results in our shop.

What makes Alpakin special?

When you look into the textile industry, you are struck by horror. Tons of clothing waste in Germany that ends up in the Atacama Desert in Chile and other parts of the world, river pollution and the exploitation of people and children in developing countries are just the tip of the iceberg.

While people in the wealthy parts of the world (are allowed to) stick themselves to the streets, in other parts people suffer for the consumerism of others. In the 21st century, we believe that sustainability, social justice and animal welfare should no longer be worth mentioning. Our manufacturers receive fair pay and no compromises when it comes to animal welfare. There is nothing more to say about that. Instead, we focus on what really makes us special:

Peruanische Frau näht von Hand Etikett in Alpaka Poncho FLOR
  • Highest quality baby alpaca wool from Peru, 100% pure and without mixtures with cheaper synthetic fibers, which inhibit the special properties of alpaca wool
  • Comfortable clothing that is soft, warm, skin-friendly, breathable and lightweight
  • Timeless designs that never go out of style
  • Limited edition pieces for people who want something special
  • Personal contact instead of automated emails
  • Our blog as the largest information portal on alpaca wool and care of alpaca clothing
  • And as your first haptic contact with Alpakin … a package that will inspire you

Gustavo Gutierrez

Gustavo Gutierrez

I am Peruvian and have been living in Germany for more than 10 years. In my hometown of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, you see alpacas everywhere. Cusco is one of the most famous sights in the country and is visited by millions of tourists every year.

One of the key events that prompted me to found Alpakin happened many years ago, but I can still remember it clearly. When I was 18, I worked as a tour guide and accompanied tourists from all over the world to the most beautiful places in Cusco and the surrounding area. Then as now, people's eyes light up when they meet a group of locals with their herd of alpacas. I was surprised at the attraction of the friendly nature of alpacas. At that time, I didn't see alpacas as anything special, as I encountered them every day in the streets of my city. That changed, however, in 2017, when Caro and I began to study the special features of alpaca fiber. The fact that this led us to our own company years later is thanks to key moment number two - my time in Germany.

In 2013, I left my family and friends behind to move to Germany. I overcame the culture shock, started my second degree, learned German and quickly fell in love with the direct, initially cool nature of the people. What impressed me most was that well-founded information is available everywhere in Germany. This time was life-changing for me. Here I learned how the economy works and what discipline means. I was inspired and made use of the diverse information channels. To this day, this has remained my very own personal luxury.

What happened next is best described by a quote from Apple founder Steve Jobs: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future." My business know-how from Germany, combined with a traditional product from my homeland, gave me the complete picture. It is called Alpakin.

We are excited about winter 2024 and will soon tell you what this year has in store for us.

Caro
Founder of Alpakin
Gustavo erhält Alpaka Poncho LUZ für Damen von Alpakin in rot aus der Fertigungsmaschine

This product is simply too good to remain an insider tip. For me, Alpakin means home and identity.

Gustavo
Founder of Alpakin

Carolin Rebhan

On my first trip to Peru, thanks to Gustavo, I was able to get to know the country from the perspective of a local. My first pair of alpaca socks not only kept me warm, but also aroused my curiosity. This then led me to an alpaca farm in the high mountains of Chimborazo in Ecuador. There I lived in the simplest of conditions with the locals and learned a lot about the production of alpaca wool.

Back in Germany, I quickly discovered that there were already suppliers of alpaca clothing. I wasn't surprised, but I was still disappointed. It wasn't until five years later that I realized that I could do better. Thanks to my career in marketing and e-commerce.

Traveling has remained my source of energy to this day: nothing inspires me as much as getting to know other cultures and ways of life. In 2022, the desire to travel gripped me like never before. I took a career break and traveled through Central America for seven months. In Guatemala, in the city of Quetzaltenango, I met an organization called Trama Textiles. They make traditional clothing using the typical weaving method, according to Mayan tradition. Mainly women, as they are severely disadvantaged and still suffer from the consequences of the civil war. I joined this special organization for a few weeks and expanded my knowledge of textile production, dyeing techniques and the challenges they face in online business.

Guatemala reminded me of Peru and I started dreaming again. A short time later, I decided I had dreamed enough and moved to Cusco, Peru, to work full-time on Alpakin. E-commerce is an exciting job, but it always left one of my dreams unfulfilled: to have my own product that I stand behind 100%. While Gustavo is responsible for the areas design, shipping and customs, I take care of the marketing. Marketing your own product is something very special. Our hearts beat for Alpakin and our ambitions are great.

Discover our knowledge portal about alpacas and their wool

Geschorenes Alpaka

Is alpaca wool animal cruelty?

Frau sitzt am Strand und kuschelt sich in ihre dicke Strickjacke aus wärmster Alpakawolle

Warmest wool

Die Köpfe zwei weißer Alpakas nebeneinander

Baby alpaca wool