Chips on a Sandwich | no. 14 | ALL ALPACA
Alpaca: The non-jerk llama.
Salvattore Carlotto Photography
ALPACA LIFE: Smaller, nicer and softer than llamas the alpaca is right at home in the mountainous and blustery Andes. Their wool-- known as fiber-- is a major source of income for many indigenous people. The nonprofits Pan Peru Alpaca and Heifer International have created workshops to teach both men and women how to knit, market and sell their alpaca goods.
ALPACA MERCH: Alpaca fiber is one of the softest materials on the planet. They're usually sheared once a year. Outer, tougher fibers are used to make jackets and blankets and the ethereal soft stuff is reserved for things like socks, scarves, hats, sweaters and stuffed alpaca animals (which is kind of meta). You can also buy dryer balls and bird nesting balls-- all alpaca, all the time.
ALPACA THERAPY: Should dogs be worried? Therapy alpacas are a thing. And you can rent a singleton or a pair for your wedding. I'm not sure if it's just for photo ops of if the fluffy alpacas really have a calming effect but just look at this goof photo bombing the happy couple.
Photo | Sergey Zinchenko
ALPACA PUN: Ba dum tss!
POLL: Sweater or cardigan? (And I am DELIGHTED that letter won over email as the preferred correspondence from last week's poll.)