Inca Tops is making another kind of statement through its program to revive the black alpaca as a source for its yarns.
Already renowned around the world for its rich tradition, Peru’s textile industry is experiencing a renaissance as a cultural icon and as a sustainable, fashionable material. Inca Tops, which has been in business for more than 50 years, is making a name around the world for its high quality industrial and knitting yarn.
To achieve long-term growth, CEO Roberto Fioretto wants to focus the company’s efforts on sustainability and traceability, while improving operations and modernizing in-house technology.
“We are focused on buying directly from producers. We want to obtain what the final consumer wants to know, which is where the product comes from,” he said.
Inca Tops is spearheading innovation with the revival of the black alpaca through its Yanapaco program. The project aims to breed pure black alpacas, which have become rare because of a high demand for pure white wool. Today, the Pacomarca farm has the world’s largest black alpaca population and provides 100 percent natural and undyed black yarns.
Across the Pacific, alpaca wool is growing more popular in Japan, where Inca Tops has had business ties over the last 35 years. Having caught the interest of innovative Japanese designers, Inca Tops, together with AMAX, unveiled its Fall–Winter 2019-20 collection and Hand Knitting 2019-20 collection in Tokyo, Japan.
“Every year, we go to Japan with new products, colors and textures. Ever since the beginning, the Japanese market has valued sustainability and traceability, which is now the only way to move forward in this world,” said Fioretto.
