In the first place, ABANZ is all about breeding for a sustainable Fleece Industry and to this end we believe that breeders need to breed for superfine fleeces that are basically white of light fawn in colour. This is so the products can be dyed to what ever colour is in fashion at the time.
“We believe that by producing a large quantity of fine, quality Alpaca fleece, and by adding value to this fleece it will enhance the long-term future of the Alpaca Industry in NZ and this will be the foundation for a predictable, profitable and sustainable Alpaca Farming Business here in New Zealand.
At present we are putting together 500 kg of white and light fawn fleece, with no guard hair and under 22 micron. This will be our flag ship trial and our first ABANZ fleece project.
f you would like information on what we are currently seeking for processing please email us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Businesses that process alpaca fleece:
Because many of our Association members have coloured animals, we have listed a large number of businesses that process Alpaca Fleece into different stages of the manufacturing process.
North Island Spinning Mills
Design Spun, Napier.
Being one of the larger processors they require volumes of 300 to 500 Kg or more.
They blend, card, comb, rove, spin, twist, reel & dye.
Produce worsted, modified worsted and wrap yarns, in cones, balls or skeins.
Mesa Mill, Hastings.
They will process single fleece.
They wash, pick, dehair, card, spin and felt. They will process 100% alpaca.
Produce semi worsted yarn in cones, balls or skeins.
Riverdale Fibre Mill, Otorohanga.
They will process single fleece.
They wash, pick, blend, de hair, card and spin. They will process 100% alpaca.
Produce batts and semi-worsted yarn in cones or skeins.
South Island Spinning Mills
Quality Yarns New Zealand, Milton.
Require volumes of 100kg or more.
They wash, blend, card, spin and dye. They will process 100% alpaca.
Produce worsted, semi-worsted and fancy yarns in cones, balls or skeins.
Tai Tapu, Christchurch.
Require volumes of 3kg or more.
They wash, pick, card, spin and blend. They will process 100% alpaca.
Produce batts and yarn in cones or skeins
Carding Processors who will process 100% alpaca:
North Island:
Bay Carding, Napier.
Will process from 1 kg of fleece.
Will wash, card and blend.
Produce slivers and batts.
Kane Carding, Dannevirke.
Will process from 1 kg of fleece.
Will wash and card your fleece.
Produce slivers or coils.
Kinrob Carding, Whangarei.
Will process from 1 kg of fleece.
Will wash, card and blend.
Produce slivers.
Newwood Alpacas and Carding, Foxton.
Will process from 1 kg of fleece.
Will wash, card, dye and blend.
Produce slivers and coils.
South Island
Belex Carding, Cromwell.
Will wash, card, blend and dye.
Produce slivers and batts.
Roto Carding, Nelson.
Will process from 1 kg of fleece.
Will wash, card and blend.
Produce roving and batts.
Tally Ho Natural Coloured Wool and Carding, Central Otago.
Will process from 1 kg of fleece.
Will wash, card and blend.
Produce Slivers and batts
Of Course before you can process your fleece a little knowledge on how to sort your fleece at the time of shearing helps immensely.
Selling fleece
When sorting a fleece for sale or processing you need to look for consistency:
- Consistency of Colour
- Consistency of Micron
- Consistency of Length
Fleece must be free of Vegetable matter and with minimal guard hair.
The coarse guard hair can ruin the overall finished product of your processed fleece.
The most usable part of the alpaca fleece is the blanket, as long as you have the consistency of Colour, Length and Micron.
Parts of the neck and upper legs can be used with the blanket as long as you have the consistency of Colour, Length and Micron.
Fleece for sale
ABANZ Members that have products for sale
Naturally Alpacas
Kaikohe
(09) 404 0044
www.naturallyalpacas.com
Naturally Alpacas has a range of handcrafts from yarns, to knitwear and felted products and Steve and Christine have a tourist hand craft shop and photography as well.
The Alpaca Company
Tauranga
(07) 552 0219
www.thealpacacompany.co.nz
The Alpaca Company crafts a range of Alpaca art, pottery alpacas, alpaca home-ware products, alpaca cards, alpaca soft toys, and alpaca jewellery.
Providencia Alpacas
Palmerston North
(06) 353 2944
www.providenciaalpacas.co.nz
Providencia Alpacas import a range of Peruvian and Bolivian products. Products include Hats, scarves, teddy bears, blankets and shawls and much more....
Arborlane Ltd Alpacas
Levin
(06) 368 8553
Christa makes and sells a range of hand spun and hand knitted garments and scarves and hand knitted teddy bears.
Gotland Alpacas
Palmerston North
(06) 356 4069
www.gotlandalpacas.co.nz
Heather makes the most amazing Teddy Bears, no two are alike
Raydene Alpacas
Waipawa
(06) 8577 221
Yvonne spins yarn and sells hand made knitted garments, hats, scarves, booties, blankets. Also sells felted products.
Newwood Alpacas
Foxton
(06) 363 7766
Denise makes shawls, wraps, vests, children’s garments and is an amazing spinner
Al and Denise also run a Carding business.
Paierau Alpacas
Masterton
(06) 377 7383
Enid makes shawls, wraps, vests, hats, caps and adult and children’s garments and is an amazing spinner.
Bruce and Enid also sell carded fibre in a range of colours for spinners and felters, and spun yarn for knitting.
Waddle Inn
Otane
(06) 856 8552
Contract hand spinning available
Kim also runs a Carding business and a craft shop with lots of Alpaca products and wool for sale
Coroglen Alpacas
Whitianga
(07) 866 3225
Wendy makes scarves, shawls, hats, garments
