What's Your Footprint?

What's Your Footprint?

Alpacas on a hill in Peru
Alpacas on a hill in Peru

The environment and the economy are really both two sides of the same coin. If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves."

- Wangari Maathai

"The environment and the economy are really both two sides of the same coin. If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves."

- Wangari Maathai

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

We're working to create a product that's as carbon-neutral as possible.

See everything that goes into your sweater, from the Andes Mountains ↝ your door.

We're working to create a product that's as carbon-neutral as possible.

See everything that goes into your sweater, from the Andes Mountains ↝ your door.

We're working to create a product that's as carbon-neutral as possible.

See everything that goes into your sweater, from the Andes Mountains ↝ your door.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Beginning in the Peruvian Andes, we source our fiber from an animal that roams free - one that has evolved in this habitat for thousands of years. Because alpacas are innate to this environment, they're inherently sustainable.

Beginning in the Peruvian Mountains, we source our fiber from an animal that roams free - one that has evolved in this habitat for thousands of years. Because alpacas are innate to this environment, they're inherently sustainable.

black and white shot of alpaca
black and white shot of alpaca

are gentle.

grass icon

alpacas nibble only the tops of grasses and other plants; they do not rip plants out of the ground, allowing the vegetation to grow back.

efficient icon

4 goat shearings = 1 cashmere sweater
1 alpaca shearing = 4 alpaca sweaters

are efficient.

leave no footprint.

paw icon

unlike goats and sheep, which have sharp hooves that damage pasture and soil, alpacas have paws that leave no footprint (literally).

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Furthermore, all alpaca wool we use is OEKO TEX certified, one of the world's best-known labels for textiles - with this certification, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button, etc, has been tested for harmful substances.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Furthermore, all alpaca wool we use is OEKO TEX certified, one of the world's best-known labels for textiles - with this certification, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button, etc, has been tested for harmful substances.

Two alpacas being sheared in a sunlit farm pen with a thatched roof and white handwritten SHEARING overlay
Two alpacas being sheared in a sunlit farm pen with a thatched roof and white handwritten SHEARING overlay

For the shearing process, we’re using a special technique (Inca Esquila) to minimize the time and stress to the alpaca. This method has now been officially adopted by the Peruvian government as the national technical standard on shearing (NTP 231.370-2014).

For the shearing process, we’re using a special technique (Inca Esquila) to minimize the time and stress to the alpaca. This method has now been officially adopted by the Peruvian government as the national technical standard on shearing (NTP 231.370-2014).

Woman sorting raw alpaca wool in a production shed with piles of fiber and handwritten overlay reading 'Wool Production'

After shearing comes wool production.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

We’re currently using solar energy for 50% of our entire wool spinning process, in association with:

Pacomarca logo

After shearing comes wool production.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

We’re currently using solar energy for 50% of our entire wool spinning process, in association with:

Pacomarca logo
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
photo of woman weaver's hands stretching alpaca sweater that says 'manufacturing'

As this is a handmade product, there’s no carbon used, just hard work - each weave in the garment is a Peruvian woman’s handmotion.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
black and white shot of alpaca

are
gentle

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

alpacas nibble only the tops of grasses and other plants; they do not rip plants out of the ground, allowing vegetation to grow back.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

4 goat shearings = 1 cashmere sweater

1 alpaca shearing = 4 alpaca sweaters

are
efficient

leave no footprint

Three people standing arm in arm in front of a rural mud-brick house with a corrugated metal roof

unlike goats and sheep, which have sharp hooves that damage pasture, alpacas have paws, leaving no footprint (literally).

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Furthermore, all alpaca wool we use is OEKO TEX certified, one of the world's best-known labels for textiles - with this certification, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button, etc, has been tested for harmful substances.

Two alpacas being sheared in a sunlit farm pen with a thatched roof and white handwritten SHEARING overlay
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

For the shearing process, we’re using a special technique (Inca Esquila) to minimize the time and stress to the alpaca. This method has now been officially adopted by the Peruvian government as the national technical standard on shearing (NTP 231.370-2014).

Woman sorting raw alpaca wool in a production shed with piles of fiber and handwritten overlay reading 'Wool Production'

After shearing comes wool production.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

We’re currently using solar energy for 50% of our entire wool spinning process, in association with:

Pacomarca logo
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
photo of woman weaver's hands stretching alpaca sweater that says 'manufacturing'

As this is a handmade product, there’s no carbon used, just hard work - each weave in the garment is a Peruvian woman’s handmotion.

decorative horizontal divider
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

After shearing comes wool spinning.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

We're currently using solar energy for 50% of our entire wool spinning process, in association with:

shipping

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
photo of woman weaver's hands stretching alpaca sweater that says 'manufacturing'
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Now, this sweater needs to go from the Andes Mountains to you. So, until teleportation is invented, we have to physically ship this product.

The benefits are, our sweaters are so light that a M only weighs around 370 grams.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

According to Boeing’s cargo carbon-emissions / flight calculator, that’s ≈ 0.001 T CO2 per sweater - for reference, that’s equivalent to 2.5 miles driven by a passenger car.

Right pointing arrow icon

As this is a handmade product, there’s no carbon used, just hard work - each weave in the garment is a Peruvian woman’s handmotion.

shipping

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Now, this sweater needs to go from the Andes Mountains to you. So, until teleportation is invented, we have to physically ship this product.

The benefits are, our sweaters are so light that a M only weighs around 370 grams.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background
Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

According to Boeing’s cargo carbon-emissions / flight calculator, that’s ≈ 0.001 T CO2 per sweater - for reference, that’s equivalent to 2.5 miles driven by a passenger car.

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

Finally, our entire package is biodegradable and compostable.

Finally, our entire package is fully biodegradable and compostable.

That's all folks! Pretty cool, right? Of course, we're not fully carbon-neutral, nor perfect, but we're committed to being the best we can. Stay cozy (I know I'll be) and thanks for becoming a part of our story :)

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

- Sebastian, the alpaca

That's all folks! Pretty cool, right? Of course, we're not fully carbon-neutral, nor perfect, but we're committed to being the best we can. Stay cozy (I know I'll be) and thanks for becoming a part of our story :)

Front view of Paka Sock LP alpaca socks showcasing ribbed knit texture and low cuff on white background

- Sebastian, the alpaca

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