Is alpaca warmer than cashmere?

Both are very warm. Cashmere is exceptional for its weight, and alpaca is also very warm and notably light, with some alpaca fibers being semi-hollow. In practice they are close; the bigger differences are in softness, durability, and drape.

Which pills less, alpaca or cashmere?

Alpaca, generally. Cashmere's short, fine fibers pill readily, while alpaca's smoother, lanolin-free fiber tends to be more durable and pill-resistant, which is one of its practical advantages.

Cashmere is usually the softer to the touch, with a famous plush hand, which is why it commands the highest price. Alpaca is also soft, with a silkier, more lustrous feel, and is more hard-wearing.

Side by side

Alpaca vs Cashmere

Alpaca and cashmere are both luxury animal fibers softer and warmer than ordinary wool, but they come from different animals and behave differently. Cashmere is the fine combed down of the cashmere goat, prized for an extraordinary plush softness. Alpaca is the fleece of the Andean alpaca: also soft and very warm, lighter and more lustrous, with a silkier, more fluid drape, and it carries no lanolin, so it tends to be more durable and less prone to pill than cashmere.

Alpaca

No. 113

woven or knitted, from alpaca fleece · first documented Antiquity

Cashmere

No. 109

fine woven or knitted, from cashmere down · first documented Middle Ages

The differences

Aspect	Alpaca	Cashmere
Animal	The Andean alpaca, a domesticated camelid.	The cashmere goat's soft underdown.
Hand	Silky and lustrous, with a smooth, fluid drape.	Plush, dry, and exceptionally soft.
Warmth	Very warm and notably light.	Exceptionally warm for its weight.
Durability	More durable and pill-resistant; no lanolin.	Softest of all, but pills more readily and wears faster.
Cost	Costly, but generally less than cashmere.	Very costly; only a few ounces of down per goat per year.

Which to choose

For the very softest, most indulgent hand, cashmere leads, at the highest price and with the most care. For warmth with more durability, a silkier drape, and slightly lower cost, alpaca is the more practical luxury. The two are sometimes blended to combine cashmere's softness with alpaca's resilience.

Common questions

Is alpaca warmer than cashmere?: Both are very warm. Cashmere is exceptional for its weight, and alpaca is also very warm and notably light, with some alpaca fibers being semi-hollow. In practice they are close; the bigger differences are in softness, durability, and drape.
Which pills less, alpaca or cashmere?: Alpaca, generally. Cashmere's short, fine fibers pill readily, while alpaca's smoother, lanolin-free fiber tends to be more durable and pill-resistant, which is one of its practical advantages.
Which is softer?: Cashmere is usually the softer to the touch, with a famous plush hand, which is why it commands the highest price. Alpaca is also soft, with a silkier, more lustrous feel, and is more hard-wearing.

Full entry: Alpaca Full entry: Cashmere

Sources & References

1.Alpaca fiber, Wikipedia
2.Alpaca, Wikipedia
3.Cashmere wool, Wikipedia
4.Cashmere goat, Wikipedia