We produce the B.e Quality garments exclusively with the Peruvian Organic Pima Cotton (See our collection here) and with the Peruvian Baby Alpaca (see our collection here). Both are premium fibres, you can easily find in the luxury fashion as per their extraordinary softness and high quality.
Peruvian Pima Cotton- Fibre’s Characteristics
The Peruvian Pima Cotton is a very soft and brilliant cotton, similar to silk. This is why it is one of the finest cotton in the world. For this reason, many call it the “Cashmere of Cottons”.
The Peruvian Pima belongs to the Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton fibre’s category. Its staples length go from 3 to 3.8 cm. It is almost double the length of normal cotton fibres that are around 1.2 to 2 cm. Moreover, it’s fibre is much more resistant than normal cotton.
The pima cotton we use comes from organic farming, and the harvest is by hand. As a result, the fibres keep their length and strength, unlike the non-organic cotton where they do the harvesting with machines, that in the process breaks and damages the fibres.
Another reason why of this extraordinary softness is that the Pima Cotton fibre has a finer diameter, around 30% finer than normal cotton fibre.
Transformation of the Fibres
The Pima Cotton grows only on the northern coastal area in Peru. The Harvest and Selection of the fibres is done by hand. Consequently, we obtain a yarn of a unique pureness. When you wear a garment made in organic cotton you can feel the higher Softness & Smoothness.
The dyeing and finishing processes are ideal to maintain the qualities of the Pima Cotton unaltered in your garments, lasting longer than normal cotton pieces. The products for dyeing and finishing used are anallergic and biodegradable. This means B.e Quality products are friendly with the environment and with delicate skins, as has no toxic chemicals.
100% of the B.e Quality Cotton comes from organic certified farming, maintaining a balanced ecosystem in the growing areas. It is also safer for people working and living in the area, it reduces water consumption of up to 90%, protects the biodiversity, etc. See our blog for further information about organic cotton.
A Bit of History
The existence and use of the Pima Cotton is recorded long before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors.
It’s fibres are so smooth, silky and with a special lustre that in the Inca period people thought it was a gift from the gods to their emperor, the Inca. In fact, only the Inca and his family could use it. This is the reason why some refer to it as ‘the Cotton of the Gods’.
Enjoy the Cotton of the Gods, and feel the difference: see our collection here .
Baby Alpaca- Fibre’s Characteristics
The fibres we use in B.e Quality come from the young alpacas hair. We choose them as per its unique soft touch, they are warmer, lighter, stronger and more.
The diameter of a Baby Alpaca fibre goes from 21 to 23 microns. An adult alpaca fibre is around 29 to 32 microns. The finer the fibre is, the softer it is. But, the softness of the alpaca is also because of its more regular surface of the fibres comparing it to sheep wool, that is more irregular and scratchy.
One very interesting fact of the alpaca fibres, is that they have an ‘air channel’ inside the fibres. This is key to understand why the alpaca is warmer and lighter. You should know that air is one of the most isolating materials, so increases the protection from cold temperatures. Air has also a very low weight compared to the fibre itself, so makes it lighter.
Moreover, Alpaca is 5 times stronger than Merino wool, one of the finest sheep wools. For this reason, alpaca garments are pieces you can wear for many many years. Another interesting characteristic, is that Alpaca is naturally not absorbing water so easily, and makes rain drops slip away more or less as if it was water-proof.
In addition, Alpaca naturally is also odour-free: the chemical & physical composition of the fibre does not allow microbes connected to sweating to develop, that are the origin of the bad odour.
We specially choose Baby Alpaca for B.e Quality garments, as per its incredible softness and for the fact they can last a lifetime with the right care.
Good for Allergies & Delicate Skin
Another important element to consider is that alpaca fibre contains no lanolin, a substance found on the sheep wool. The lanolin is the origin of many allergies the skin can develop, besides the strong odour you may perceive in some garments, specially when wet. This is why many people with allergies to wool can happily wear alpaca garments.
In reference to allergens, we want to add that alpaca animals produce fleece in ivory, chocolate, camel & black colours. These natural coloured hairs are dyes-free and have a higher resistance to degradation of the colour. So we have a wide variety of shades combining these natural coloured fibres. As a consequence, we have less pollution and less chemical products in contact with the skin, and a cleaner environment.
A Bit of History
The alpaca fibres have been used for textile purposes even before the Inca Empire. As per their antique knowledge, they carefully selected the animals with the finest fibres to breed among them, and obtain new generations with the finest fibres. For these reasons, only the Inca and his closest family members had access to use it.
Today, they sheer them on the spring period, where they do not need anymore protection from the cold weather. This happens in a very friendly way, and the animals have no harm during and after the process.
Enjoy the warmest & softest Alpaca fibres, and feel the difference: see our collection here .
