Why You Want an Alpaca Sweater

Known as one of nature's best performance fabrics, alpaca wool is made from the silky fleece of the llama-like animal native to South America. On the wool spectrum, it falls into the happy medium of affordability and luxurious feel. Alpaca can be as soft as cashmere without the pilling and as warm as sheep's wool without all the bulk. Plus, it's hypo-allergenic and extremely strong so it will last you. But trust us when we say this stuff is warm. Don't overdo the layering or else you'll find yourself sweating through your base layers. From 100% alpaca sweaters like the one from Zady's inaugural men's collection to lighter blends like a military-inspired sweater from J.Crew, here are some of the best ones to buy right now.