This article was written in July, 2009

The saying goes that every cloud has a silver lining. If that is so, is the rising interest in fiber processing and utilization by alpaca owners the silver lining of the cloud representing our current economic situation? The purpose of this article is not to discuss the various ways this situation is affecting our personal lives and alpaca businesses. It is to discuss the emerging interest in ways to build the financial possibilities of the annual harvest of fiber into business and breeding plans.

When looking into the alpaca business, how many of us asked the question "what do you raise the alpacas for?" Otherwise interpreted as...what do you do with them? The answer probably sounded something like...we are building the North America herd in order to meet the future demand for quality fiber production. And, we are a long way from having the number of alpacas needed to meet those demands. For many (probably most), that translates to we must continue to breed and sell in order to create that future.

Is that future here now? Perhaps not yet in the total number and size of fiber producing herds needed to fill the demands for commercial processing, but the concept is beginning to catch on. The number of “fiber boys” is on the rise and many discussions are occurring around the topic of what to do with these boys. I have been involved in or overheard the concept of a national alpaca fiber herd being discussed in various forums. There are of course many details to be worked through and business models to be developed, but the interest seems to be here now.

Perhaps it is selective perception on my part, but it seems that almost everywhere I look I see an increasing interest in fiber production. Seminars and workshops focusing on preparing fleece for processing, articles in camelid focused publications, and long range strategic planning by AOBA seem to be focusing on fiber production and utilization. Alpaca owners who have not shown much interest in “doing something” with their fiber harvest are now looking at the possibilities of this aspect of the alpaca business to generate income.

From the beginning of the growth in the alpaca breeding and selling industry, there have been ranches whose focus has been and continues to be on producing alpaca fiber and the resulting products. These producers either process the fiber themselves or utilize the increasing number of mini-mills. These ranches and mini-mills have demonstrated that the alpaca fiber “cottage industry” business model is successful.

However, a national fiber industry is an entirely different situation. We are talking about building a commercial alpaca fiber industry from the ground up. From collection to finished product, processes and supporting businesses must be in place to handle each step in the value-added process economically. There needs to be a collaborative effort between the organizations and businesses that currently are independently building pieces of this industry.

By the time this article is printed, I will have attended what I hope will become an annual alpaca fiber symposium. The Alpaca Fiber Symposium…Today, Tomorrow, & Beyond came about because of the desire to create a fiber industry. Speakers and select presenters will join motivated attendees to discuss the various aspects of creating a viable North American fiber industry. Scheduled topics of interest include marketing alpaca fiber, learning processing vocabulary and technical needs of the processors, how the mill machinery works, challenges of spinning alpaca fiber and why blending is a good option, and how alpaca fiber is being utilized by interior designers.

Interest is rising, and business plans are being created to build a national alpaca fiber industry. Those who might not have been too interested in the past are now beginning to pay attention to the possibilities of creating a fiber industry. An industry that will require the continued growth in quantity and quality of individual and perhaps national herds.

What can we do in the meantime? We can make sure that our harvested fiber makes its way into the market place and hands of the consumer. Whether we utilize mini-mills, or fiber cooperatives or pools, our fiber must not remain in our garages/barns/storage sheds.

The increased or renewed interest in utilizing individual ranch fiber production for economic gain may very well be the “silver lining” during these clouded economic times.