It was love at first touch with Golden Touch Naturals alpaca socks. I first became familiar with alpaca on a trip to Peru in 2010. Both alpaca and llamas roam around some small towns of Peru like wooly stray dogs.

US Grown, US Made Alpaca: Golden Touch Naturals

I never thought I'd find alpacas in the US. Perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough. I've been traveling to Westport, Massachusetts since I was a kid. To my surprise, I realized that, on the same street where our family friends lived, there was a farm with alpaca. The same alpaca I had been passing for years were the very ones from Golden Touch Naturals' farm. There is a herd of over 100 alpacas currently on the farm and Golden Touch Naturals has been exclusively manufacturing their fiber in the US for over 20 years. We have mentioned them before on our ultimate source list for Made in USA socks and our American Made cold weather gear source list.

Golden Touch Naturals alpaca farm located in Westport, Massachusetts. Enter now to will a $100 Gift Card to their online farm store.

It's not because of this small world coincidence that I'm excited to tell you more about Golden Touch Naturals though. It was love at first touch when I received these fingerless gloves and the low profile socks. For those of you who may be wary of alpaca fiber it's much softer than sheep's wool.

 Read more below about what makes alpaca wool so unique.

WHAT MAKES ALPACA FIBER SO GREAT?

  • Hypoallergenic  – Alpaca fiber is naturally hypoallergenic because it doesn't contain lanolin, an oil commonly found in sheep's wool that requires harsh chemical detergents to wash out before processing. Alpaca fiber's microscopic scales are also shorter than sheep's wool of the same fineness, resulting in it feeling smoother next to your skin. The smooth surface also gives bacteria and other odor causing agents less places to hide, making alpaca fiber naturally odor resistant and anti-microbial.
  • Moisture Wicking  – Alpaca fiber's semi hollow core allows it to transfer moisture away from the skin and into the outer layers of your clothing, letting it evaporate and keeping your more comfortable for longer in damp and cold conditions. This same semi hollow fiber structure traps warm air, acting as a naturally insulator, which keeps you warmer in lighter-weight garments.
  • Odor Resistant – Another secret about alpaca is that it is naturally odor resistant. One of Golden Touch Naturals' customers is a distance runner and she wears the Low Pro Ankle Socks when she runs 5 and 10k races.  Since runners usually hang out after races to change and carry their clothes in their backpacks, they are always concerned how they will smell.  She claims to have the nicest smelling backpack in the race!
  • Durability  – Alpaca fiber is naturally resistant to abrasion and pilling, it's tensile strength is also 7% stronger than sheep's wool. This translates into increased durability, improving the life time of your alpaca clothing and accessories.

As cooler weather approaches, be sure to check out all Golden Touch Naturals alpaca goods for men and women. These socks, hats, gloves and other alpaca fiber products make fabulous gifts too! Do you knit? They sell yarn too.

Golden Touch Naturals alpaca goods store. #giveaway #usgrown #USagriculture

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