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High up in the Andes, in the Altiplano of the Lake Titicaca basin, a small fluffy creature happily nibbles on a delicious tuft of bunchgrass. Even with his long neck he's just over three feet high. His ivory coat gleams in the sun, and small ears stand straight up on the top of his head, alert for any sound of danger. His tiny, furry face has a sweet and gentle expression, with grey eyes peeking out from under the curly fringe that cascades from his forehead. His tiny mouth is turned up in a natural, perpetual smile.
The tiny creature is literally humming with contentment. The sun is shining, the grasses are juicy and tender, and he can see the rest of his herd grazing in the pasture where he wanders. He's safe and his belly is growing full.
The animal seems ideally suited to his conditions. His two long toes have a thick pad for sure footing on rugged, rocky surfaces. His efficient digestive system requires a small amount of vegetation for the animal to survive. His plush, luxurious coat keeps him warm.
It's a cool summer day. And when the sun sets in the evening and the cold winds blow, the temperature will plummet to as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The little creature will be warm throughout the night, protected from the bitter chill by a coat that is so luxurious it's been admired, valued, and harvested for over 5000 years.
This is the wool of the alpaca: a wool so luxurious that the Incas claimed it to be the "Fiber of the Gods." It was so treasured that none but royalty were permitted to wear it.
Warmer than sheep's wool and softer than cashmere, the gorgeous, strong and colorful alpaca fiber has kept this animal from extinction. Before the Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed, herdsmen in the Andes had domesticated the alpaca that, lacking defenses, wouldn't have survived without mankind's intervention.
Prosperous Inca nobles demonstrated their wealth by the number of alpacas they owned, and the beauty of the alpaca fiber garments they wore. For thousands of years, trade in this treasured fleece flourished, creating a thriving South American economy. When 17th Century Spanish Conquistadors conquered the Inca Empire, some of the natives took their animals with them to seek refuge on the heights of the Andes. The Inca are now gone, but the alpaca was saved from extermination.
Today, about 3 million — almost 99% — of the world's alpacas are raised domestically in Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Their sumptuous wool is still considered one of the most valuable fibers on earth.
One of the premier creators of precious alpaca yarn, is Aslan Trends, a company that celebrates the beauty and quality of South American fibers.
Founded in 1951, Aslan Trends specializes in natural luxury yarns directly from Patagonia and the Andes mountains. Starting with alpaca, and then adding angora, merino, cotton and synthetics, Aslan Trends is committed to admirable business practices and superior quality products. From their offices in Sao Paolo, Brazil and New York, NY they present their global audience with fibers designed to delight and inspire.
Angelo Fernandez, who opened operations in the United States in 2007, says the company has a strong ethical code and a global perspective. They understand the importance of a unified corporate approach regardless of where in the world they are. They also encourage innovation, traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Australia, UK, Spain, Germany and Italy searching for new ideas and forging new relationships.
"We want to establish partnerships — mutually beneficial relationships based on honesty and respect," says Fernandez. "We travel to other countries and learn about different cultures. What we learn opens up whole new windows of opportunities for us to explore."
Fernandez has been involved in the textile and yarn industry all his life, from apparel manufacturing to textile distribution and yarn development. He made his presence known quickly after establishing the company in North America, aggressively marketing to shops he carefully selected based on their compatibility to his own high business standards, and their ability to serve a market of high-end consumers.
"We devote all our energy to providing customers with what they want," he says. "They don't need more yarn, but they want it...and they demand the best."
He speaks enthusiastically about his company as he insists that Aslan Trends' Royal Alpaca, their most successful yarn, is the best quality alpaca fiber available at the most affordable price.The little, furry alpacas on the Peruvian highlands inspired the creation of a company that is quickly becoming one of the most respected yarn manufacturers in North America.
If it weren't for the tiny alpaca, Aslan Trends would never have been founded. If it weren't for discriminating yarn manufacturers like Fernandez, the alpaca might not now exist.
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Win an Aslan Trends Gift Package Worth Over $200
See details below »
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Here's a fantastic blend of cotton, nylon and alpaca. Alpaca wool is soft and warm and prevents the cotton from stretching; the cotton makes washing and drying a breeze; and nylon adds durability and strength. Use this yarn for garments and accessories. Made in Argentina. We have 18 colors in stock.
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This super-chunky yarn works up into quick, but gorgeous, jackets, tops, bags, shawls and other accessories. Made in Brazil for the fashionistas in the world, this innovative wool and acrylic 2-ply blend is on the cutting edge of the latest trends. 9 earthtone shades in stock now!
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Hats, accessories, clothing...you name it! The yarn experts at Aslan Trends have taken a 100% supersoft merino wool, spun it as a thick and thin, super chunky yarn and dyed it in jewel and earth tones. It's spun as a single strand in 100-gram hanks. You'll love working with this quick-to-knit yarn. We have 17 colors.
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If you're wearing it next to you skin, you want it to feel soft and luxurious. This gorgeous yarn is spun from natural angora fiber, but it doesn't have the "fly aways" associated with angora. Crafted in Argentina of 50% angora, 25% merino wool and 25% nylon. We have 20 colors of this light worsted weight yarn.
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Looking for comfy warmth, velvety softness and long term wearability in one great yarn? Then you'll want to check out this marvelous thick and thin, super chunky fiber gem from Aslan Trends. It's in a generous 100-gram hank for fewer tie-ins. Crafted in Argentina of 85% merino wool and 15% nylon. 18 colors.
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This fingering weight yarn is the lightest weight fiber blend in Aslan Trend's Kettle Hand Dyed Collection. Velvety soft against your skin, it's ideal for socks and very special baby and children's outfits. The 85% merino wool and 15% nylon blend is durable, elastic and machine washable. Choose from 18 colors.
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Another of the beautiful kettle hand-dyed blends by Aslan Trends, Tango Solid has a multi-colored base strand interspersed with fluffy slubs every 2 inches or so. Crafted of 90% acrylic and 10% nylon, this yarn is machine washable so it's fantastic for spring and summer novelty projects. 15 solid colors in stock.
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At 19.0 to 19.5 microns Royal Alpaca is super soft, lighter and warmer than cashmere. This yarn is genuinely royal, a classification used to identify only1% of the world's alpaca production. At this very low price, you can discover the difference that pure 100% Royal Alpaca makes. We have 21 colors in stock.
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This wonderful 100% Pima cotton yarn is perfect for warm weather projects and great for folks with sensitive skin and for baby outfits. The light worsted gauge is so versatile you can use it for lightweight summer cardis, tops, bags and scarves. In 20 solids and 8 multi-hued tweeds.
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When you combine lightweight yet warm alpaca fleece with supersoft merino wool you get a sumptuous fiber you'll want to have next to your skin. This 60% alpaca and 40% merino wool is perfect for shawls, hats, and sweaters. Made in Argentina. We have 23 colors.
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This soft yarn is ideal for all your DK weight knitting and crochet projects. The cotton/rayon blend is delicate, fun and has a soft, light sheen that makes it perfect for spring and summer. Made in Argentina of 55% cotton and 45% rayon, each one of our 14 colorways has a lovely tone-on-tone you'll adore!
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Merino wool has become highly prized all over the world as one of the softest wools you'll find. This one also offers great stitch definition so it's a wonderful choice for classic styles and cables. Del Cerro is as much a pleasure to wear as it is to knit crochet with. We have 24 colors for garments and accessories.
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When you think of rainbows, you think of color. This new yarn by Aslan Trends comes in a variety of multi-hued shades. It's 95% acrylic and 5% polyester that goes from thick to thin with variegated strands twisted together by an accenting thread. We have this bulky beauty in 8 colorways.
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You're going to love this versatile yarn for year-round wear in beautiful scarves, tops, jackets...well, anything suitable for a great worsted weigh yarn! The variegated effect has fabulous sheen. It's dyed with contrasting marled strands for a colorful, tweedy look in 11 spectacular colors.
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Athough Aslan Trends is relatively new to North America, their roster of designers reads like a Who’s Who of the industry, with patterns by Melissa Leapman, Amy Polcyn, Dina Mor and Nicky Epstein.
The first book, Season’s Change Volume 1, introduced Aslan Trends yarns and patterns to an entirely new audience of knitters. It was developed by Dina Mor, a fiber artist who shows her love of the yarns and of the Andean culture with 11 patterns for men, women and children. This was Dina’s first book, but the patterns look like they’ve come from a designer with a far greater collection under her belt. Dina has been a knitter since childhood and a yarn shop owner so she applied her wealth of experience to creating patterns that are contemporary yet sophisticated.
The company’s second book, Season’s Change Volume 2, once again treated us to Dina’s design skill, and also added patterns by luminaries Melissa Leapman and Amy Polcyn. Throughout this book you find classic patterns that are modern and stylish for today’s knitter, each one reflecting the company’s philosophy that fashion must be practical and wearable.
“A design is not completed until someone is wearing it,” says Angelo Fernandez of Aslan Trends. “A good design has the power to transport people into their own world…to capture their imagination. It’s not just what it looks and feels like, it’s how it works for them.”
Recently, Aslan Trends commissioned award-winning designer, Nicky Epstein to write a magnificent book entitled, Nicky Epstein’s Enchanting Collection. This fascinating assortment of patterns includes 13 projects she created exclusively for Aslan Trends.
"When asked to do a book for them," she writes, "I agreed, brimming with ideas and excitement. The colors and textures of the yarns generated images for me of gardens, seasons, flowers, leaves, of styles and shapes and of the word 'enchantment.'"
From the romance of her Delightful Brocade Jacket to the structural genius of her Spellbound Woven Vestlet, and the sparkling, crystal embellishments of Bedazzling Wedding Ring Bodice, Nicky has captured our imaginations and inspired us to enjoy the tactile and visual experience of these innovative South American yarns.
It's little wonder that this book quickly became a best-seller. "Nicky really did outstanding work on this book," says Angelo Fernandez. "The designs are captivating with a unique fashion allure. One of our most popular pattern comes from this book: the beguiling Empire Jacket made with Aslantrends Artesanal Alpaca and cotton yarn."
With every design they produce Aslan Trends keeps in mind that their outlook is based on fashion with a good sense of direction.
"Nicky's unique talent and understanding of the business blends perfectly with our company and where we come from," says Angelo. “That is one of the reasons we work so close with Nicky Epstein. Her designs are not only fashionable and gorgeous, they are a dream come true.”
We agree with Angelo about the quality of his yarns and the designs developed to showcase their best features. Through the manufacture of fine yarns in a glorious array of colors and the development of patterns that reflect contemporary fashions with a classic foundation, Aslan Trends has quickly become one of the favorites of knowledgeable knitters throughout the world.
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For evenings on the beach or for outside dining, add a little style and warmth with this pretty shawl created with Artesanal yarn. The self-fringing wrap works up quickly in the heavy worsted weight yarn. It's a combination of natural cotton, alpaca and nylon. Add clasps for extra style. Finished size is 46" x 17".
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We were thrilled when this pattern made the cover of Vogue Knitting magazine. It's one of our favorite styles from Aslan Trends. The cabled cardigan is created with soft, luxurious 100% merino Del Cerro yarn. Twisted rib borders update the silhouette of this traditional cardigan with classic cable patterning.
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This little pullover will take you from dining al fresco to casual walks in the park. Created with Class yarn from Aslan Trends, the figure-defining pullover is feminine and pretty. The cutout neckline shaping is the focal point, framing the face and showing just a little extra skin. The contrasting trim adds extra style.
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When evenings by the shore get chilly or you're attending an outdoor concert, you'll want to snuggle up in something warm and wonderful. This short double-breasted jacket, created Del Sur, is double-breasted with raglan sleeves. It's edged with an I-cord style trim that's worked along with the front pieces.
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This trendy vest is created with Tango yarn will dress up jeans or add a special style to any outfit. The waistcoat is knit with two colors held together and worked back and forth. The small shawl collar is added after you finish the body. These long, loose vests look good on virtually every shape and are great for year-round wear.
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You don't have to be the bride to wear this gorgeously elegant top. But if you are the bride, match it with a satin skirt and you'll be dazzling. Crafted with Class yarn, it's done in an easy crochet ring stitch repeat and enhanced with sewn-on Swarovski crystals. The open back is laced with tulle, an I-cord or satin ribbon. One size.
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Dress up any spring or summer outfit with this interesting shrug created with Guanaco yarn. The little stand-up collar and cap sleeves set this shrug apart from others. We also like the touch of eyelet running diagonally on the front panels. One size fits up to 38" bust. The pattern is free with yarn purchase.
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his feminine and romantic angora sweater is created with the angora blend, Invernal yarn. The soft fiber knits up beautifully into this cardigan with a touch of texture for added interest. The 3/4-length sleeves and cropped length make for great layering every season of the year. Pattern is free with yarn purchase.
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Accent your favorite tops, sweaters and jackets with this fun, multi-textured, multi-colored scarf. It's a simple pattern because the yarn has so much character without any fancy stitches. Just knit and purl with two hanks of Litoral and you've got a fun accessory to wear all summer long. Finished size of 6"
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The contrasting colored cables on this coat give it a really stylish look. The shawl collared jacket is created with Los Andes and Del Sur yarns, a combination we know you'll love. The short sleeves and shawl collar all work together to create casual elegance. You can add clasp closures or leave it open.
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What a pretty optical illusion! If you look closely, you'll see this top is actually not a wrap at all. The fold-around illusion is created by a contrasting garter stitch band that travels across and up the stockinette body. It's crafted in cool, smooth 100% pima cotton that we think is perfect for your summer wardrobe.
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Here's another little beauty crafted in 100% pima cotton Pima Clasico yarn. The sleeveless top features gorgeous textural stitch patterns including a leaf motif, a chevron motif, and double seed stitch. Perfect worn alone or as a shell under a jacket. The pattern is free with the purchase of Pima Clasico yarn.
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Knit this special baby heirloom by Dina Mor for your favorite wee one. This Pima Clasico baby blanket has innovative "kisses" as squares in your choice of solid shades. Then the feminine ruffle around all four sides is knitted in separate sections out of one of the coordinating tweed combos.
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This simple cardigan is created with Royal Alpaca yarn, so it will be cosy and warm on cool summer evenings. Simple styling with a single-button closure means you can team it with jeans to dress them up for casual class or wear with a pretty evening dress. The pattern is free pattern with your yarn purchase.
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These socks are so pretty that you'll want to make more than one pair. A lace panel is knit on the front and the back of these socks with a simple stockinette for the remainder. They're created with colorful Sante Fe yarn. Buy two colors — one for yourself and one for a friend. Pattern is free with yarn purchase.
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Yarnmarket's BargainYARNS
Discount designer and
value-priced yarns
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You could win an Aslan Trends Prize Package worth over $200. The package includes:
» 8 skeins Pima Clasico Solid in 0075 Garden Green
» Textured Trapeze Sweater Pattern
» Crystal Palace Straight Needles 12" size 7 US
» Crystal Palace Bamboo Circular Needle 26" size 6 US
» Nicky Epstein's Enchanting Collection
» 8 skeins Classic in 4019 Straw
» Season's Change Volume 2
» Chibi Darning Needle Set
» Split Ring Markers
Send an email with your answer to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Make sure the subject is: Spotlight on Aslan Trends.
Include in your email the answer to the question: For how many years has the wool of the alpaca been harvested?
We'll draw a winner from all the correct submissions on
June 3, 2011 and announce it in our next issue of Spotlight.
Congratulations to Shirley Bradley of Pennsylvania who won our Spotlight on Sirdar contest in April!
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