| Alpaca | Qiviut | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical diameter | 18–32 µm | 11–13 µm |
| Source | Alpaca | Musk ox undercoat |
| Lanolin | No | No |
| Warmth | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Softness | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Luster | ★★★ | ★★ |
| Elasticity | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
Bottom line
Warm for its weight, lanolin-free, silky hand; less elastic than wool.
Extremely warm and rare; collected from shed undercoat.
Choose alpaca for warm, drapey, lanolin-free garments; choose qiviut if you value softer. Blends often give the best of both.
Qiviuq [sg] or qiviut [pl] is the inner wool of the muskox. In Inuinnaqtun the same word can be used to refer any down such as the down feathers of birds.From Wikipedia — “Qiviut”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
FAQ
Is alpaca better than qiviut?
Alpaca is more durable and more lustrous. Qiviut is softer. Warm for its weight, lanolin-free, silky hand; less elastic than wool. Extremely warm and rare; collected from shed undercoat.
Is alpaca warmer than qiviut?
Qiviut is at least as warm as alpaca.
Is alpaca softer than qiviut?
It depends on the grade: fine alpaca (18–22 µm) is very soft, while qiviut typically measures 11–13 µm.