Spotlight on Amano

This company works closely with rural communities in the Peruvian Andes to produce gorgeous alpaca-blend yarns

Produced in the Peruvian Andes, these yarns feel so luxurious

HAILING FROM the high peaks of the Peruvian Andes comes Amano, a new range of yarns for handknitting. Its creators describe the yarns as “a gift from the gods”, and we can understand why - these indulgent, luxurious blends of finest Imperial alpaca, baby llama, mulberry silk and cashmere are simply divine.

The Amano range is produced in the historic city of Arequipa by parent company Inca Tops. Inspired by a desire to reflect the rich culture of the Andes, Amano’s nine luxury yarns take their names from the native language of the Incas, Quechua.

Among Amano’s exquisite offerings is Apu, a name which means mountain god. Its natural snowy-white fibres are spun from imperial alpaca fibre, considered to be the finest alpaca in the world. Sorted and dehaired by hand, the sport-weight Apu is only available in its raw, undyed state. Its tight twist, soft bounce, and delicate feel will create extra-special shawls and garments.

The DK-weight Mayu has a subtle, flowing appearance - making its name, meaning river, a perfect fit. Unsurprisingly soft, with its unique blend of royal alpaca, cashmere, and mulberry silk, Mayu has 14 shades inspired by the landscapes of the Andes. From delicate Celestial to crisp Cool Breeze, each rich colour is created using a dip-dyeing technique – imitating a method traditionally used by the Incas.

The gorgeous, heathered colours of Puna take their inspiration from the distinctive landscapes of the Andes. It’s available in 11 varied shades, from Andean Sunrise’s soft green and yellow mix, to Cusco Roofs’ vibrant pink tones. Spun from 100% baby alpaca fibre, Puna is a soft and springy sportweight with a delicate halo.

Named after the Inca’s system of barter trade, the baby alpaca-silk blend of Ayni represents the range of items found for sale in Andean markets. Ayni’s 14 shades are inspired by products including raisins, jade, and nutmeg, bringing a sense of the rich colours of the Andes Mountains into our knitting.

Both consisting of a gorgeous mix of baby alpaca and merino wool, Warmi and Mamacha are dyed in exciting shades inspired by the vibrant fruits and flowers of the Andes. However, the different ways in which they are spun means that Warmi appears as a bouncy, closely spun yarn, while Mamacha is loosely spun, creating a chunkier and fluffier finish.

Natural beauty

Puyu is a super-chunky yarn created by introducing baby alpaca by high air pressure into a netting of mulberry silk. The result is as soft and light as a cloud. Its range of colours pays homage to the alpacas it originates from, offering nine natural hues -from the silvery Fog, to Charcoal, which offers a strong contrast against its silk casing.

Eco Puna is DK weight which showcases five undyed shades of baby alpaca fleece, spun into stunningly soft yarn. Each shade represents the company’s effort to preserve and present the raw colours of alpaca fleece throughout the spinning process.

Breaking the alpaca trend, Colca is spun from ever-so-soft baby llama and silk. The silk creates a glossy sheen, while the fuzzy llama fibres give the yarn a gentle halo. Its range of 12 lively, saturated shades, taking their cues from the traditional textiles of the Colca Valley, will be ideal for colourwork.

The nine Amano yarns are supported by lovely designs for handknitters. Currently, two pattern books are available. Volume One consists of textured accessories and garments, including a lacy poncho knitted using Puyu, a feminine top with oversized cables, lacy shawls and cowls, and a luxurious shawl-collared cardigan with a diamond textured pattern.

Volume Two is more accessory-driven, with shawls, cowls, armwarmers and hats. It also includes a garter stitch cardigan in Colca, and two dramatically modern ponchos. Amano has been working closely with international designers, and has teamed up with the likes of Isabell Kraemer, Andrea Rangel, and Martha Wissing - so we can expect many more inspirational patterns!

Community focus

Sustainability is at the heart of Inca Tops’ ethos. It has long been motivated by a vision to create sustainable alpaca farming in the region, which directly benefits the thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on it as a resource. It joined forces in 2011 with research centre Pacormarca on a programme to improve the genetics of alpacas in the Peruvian highlands, which have been declining over the years.

Inca Tops has also been working with the project Teijendo Oportunidades (Knitting Opportunities) for more than 10 years, working to train small knitting companies and entrepreneurs in areas such as quality control, knitting design, and fashion trends. As well as this, Inca Tops is one of the founding companies of Patrulla

Ecológica (Eco Patrol) – a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting the environment in Arequipa city.

It’s little wonder that Designer Yarns was delighted to take on the distribution of Amano yarns and pattern books across the UK and Ireland. The team was overjoyed when they were contacted by the Inca Tops CEO last year to tell them about its luxurious, sustainable and yet affordable range of handknitting yarns. Having begun swatching and knitting with Amano products ourselves, we predict they are going to be a big hit with British knitters.

– For more information about Amano yarns, visit www.amanoyarns.com. – To find your nearest stockist, visit www.designeryarns.uk.com or call 01535 664222