Samantha Holmes

About

Beautiful, ethical, timeless alpaca clothing and accessories, designed in Scotland, handcrafted in Peru, since 2003

We are a small founder-owned business in Scotland, specialising in soft, cosy, natural alpaca clothing, since 2003.

The inspiration for my designs and colours comes from the dramatic scenery of Scotland's West Coast where I work from home. I have always loved traditional craftsmanship and the natural world.

Once known as the Gold of the Incas, alpaca fleece was once treasured by Inca Royalty for its lustre and unique buttery softness. It is super-insulating, hard wearing, hypo-allergenic and comes in many natural colours ranging from cream, beige, brown, grey to charcoal and black.

My alpaca products are simple, versatile and timeless. Each piece is beautifully made and hand-finished in Peru. Our business helps sustain the livelihoods of the families and homeworkers who make for us in poor communities, protecting a fragile tradition that stretches back thousands of years to pre-Incan times.

• Sustainably and ethically made

• Unique silkiness which improves with age

• Durable, no bobbling or pilling

• Low prickle factor

• Natural and Hypoallergenic

• High warmth to weight ratio

Ethically Sourced

Our alpaca yarn is made in Peru by two long established companies, who source their alpaca fibre ethically and have active social responsibility programmes, investing proceeds back into poorer Peruvian communities.

Traditional Craftsmanship

Each of our alpaca products is finished by hand in our studios in Peru, following a tradition which goes back centuries. Alpaca was once prized by the Inca nobility for its unique silky softness, durability and insulating properties. Our artisans are self-employed home workers and small family businesses with whom we work directly.

Our small batch production ensures minimal wastage, more flexibility and attention to detail. Pictured here is Isidro and his family who craft Samantha's alpaca fur products.

Sustainable Natural Authentic

Our designs transcend seasonal trends. We are a 'slow fashion' brand focusing on product longevity and simplicity. Nearly everything we produce is 100% natural. Alpacas come in 22 recognised shades, ranging from black, grey, brown to cream and white which avoids the need for dyes, and the dyes we do use are Azo free.

Alpacas themselves are well known for their minimal impact on the environment. They tread lightly with their soft padded feet, yield higher annual volume of fleece than sheep and have efficient grazing habits. Alpaca farming also requires no harsh chemicals.

Transparent and Trusted

Loyal to alpaca since 2003, we have repeat customers all over the world. 60% of our turnover is repeat business. We have no middlemen, we work directly with our makers with whom we have a longstanding relationship - some have been with us since 2003. We remain true to our original values and are still a small Scottish business run from home.

Women Owned and Run

Girl Power… Founded by Samantha, the business is almost entirely run by women. Our knitting operation in Peru is run by Paola in Lima, who also employs a core team of women who assist her with finishing and quality control. Here is Samantha with our handknitters in Puno. Our pack and dispatch operation is an independent business in Glasgow run by Maureen and Sue with Lynn, our Head Packer. To avoid this sounding too woke however, I should mention that we do have some very capable fellas in the supply chain too!

To follow us behind the scenes, head over to @samanthaholmes.alpaca on Instagram.