Benefits of Paka clothing, made with alpaca fiber

By Henry Howard

I was pleased to recently discover Paka, a clothing brand that prides itself on using alpaca fiber, which is hypoallergenic , non-toxic and OEKO-TEX certified.

Their line includes socks, sweaters, hoodies and even underwear. Paka created its underwear line fully out of natural fibers eliminates any chance of micro-plastic or PFAS absorption into the body. For full disclosure, I received a pair of the Paka underwear in exchange for this post.

According to Paka, which was founded in Peru, their “mission is to create natural, all-purpose clothing for people who love the outdoors. We’re doing this by innovating with alpaca fiber and other materials that are healthier for people and the planet, so that consumers can connect to our natural world, make more conscious choices, and support the communities where our products come from.”

The briefs are made from 48% Tencel (sustainable fabric made from wood pulp), 33% organic cotton, 14% royal alpaca and 5% spandex.

The details

When I first slipped on the undies, I was struck by their soft, cashmere-like feel. Because alpaca is hypoallergenic, it doesn't have that itchy grease that other wools often do. While wearing it, both as casual wear, and during workouts I found that the briefs retain their shape without bunching. Win.

Here are some other benefits of Paka underwear:

• Super lightweight: It is approximately three times lighter than sheep's wool.

• Thermoregulates: Alpacas have adapted to an alpine climate that can shift from 0 to 80F – through that evolution, their fibers developed medullated hollow air pockets for insulating heat while allowing breathability.

• Moisture wicking: The low moisture retention rate for alpaca fiber means that it dries super quickly. Consider that alpaca is around 10% moisture retention, compared to 16-20% of other wools.

• Odor-resistant: Alpaca fibers contain a keratin protein with natural antibacterial properties.