Vicuña

/vɪˈkuːnjə/ noun

Definition

The world's finest and most expensive natural fiber, obtained from the vicuña, a wild relative of the llama native to the Andes. The fiber is incredibly soft, lightweight, and warm, making it the ultimate luxury textile.

Etymology

From Quechua 'wik'uña,' the indigenous name for this Andean camelid. The fiber was reserved for Inca royalty and remained largely unknown to the outside world until Spanish colonization, when it became synonymous with ultimate luxury.

Kelly Says

Vicuña is so rare and valuable that it's literally worth more than gold by weight—a single coat can cost $50,000 or more. The animals can only be sheared every three years and produce just 250 grams of fiber each time, making vicuña the ultimate expression of sustainable luxury in fashion.

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