We are proudly a South American company and we commit to retaining the majority of our value chain in South America, marking the fabrics we produce with a “Made in” label that reflects the highest quality and craftsmanship in the world.
Alpaca & Vicuña
Merino Wool
SA Cotton
Is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
Lanas del Sur also works with key organizations to ensure the long-term commitment
between woolgrowers, mills, brands and consumers.
International Wool Textile Organisation
The Woolmark Company
SCS Global Services
Since 1909, we have been crafting South America’s finest fleece at our historic sheep stations situated on the idyllic lands of Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), as the finest fabrics at our sister weaving mills in England and Italy.
Founded by the Vergara y Badell brothers, Fernando, José León and Cristóbal, both of Spanish-Chilean origins, Lanas del Sur is the last company of its kind in South America and is proud to spin, weave and finish most textiles onsites.
Merino is a sheep breed originated in Spain during 12th century, then developed mainly in Australia and finally introduced in South America in the late 19th century.
Renowned around the world for its exceptional qualities, which is at once soft, tough and ultrafine. Fine, Superfine and Extrafine wool (from 14 to 23 micron).
It is here, in this sparse, wild landscape of Chile and Argentina, that herds of merino sheep graze freely and undisturbed, in a perfect natural habit.
Fashion designers love this unique fibre for its quality and versatility – nothing else feels like Merino wool, looks like Merino wool, or wears like Merino wool.
Merino wool is a natural fibre grown year-round by Merino sheep, consuming a simple blend of natural ingredients including sunshine, water, fresh air and grass.
Merino wool can be softer than cashmere and smoother than silk. The average micron of human hair is between 50 to 100 micron. Merino wool is generally less than 22 micron, which shows just how soft this premium fibre is.
Alpacas are known camelids native to South America. There are two breeds of this four-legged animal: the Huacaya alpaca and the Suri alpaca. The first records of Western manufacture of alpaca wool are from the 1800s.
Alpaca fibers provide enhanced breathability, are highly insulative, highly water-resistant, fireproof, and hypoallergenic. Its fibers range from 16 to 27 micron).
Indigenous South Americans have bred alpacas for thousands of years. Since this type of wool has so many beneficial qualities, it was often reserved for royalty, and it was sometimes known as “the fiber of the gods.”
Fashion designers gravitate towards alpaca fleece, eager to infuse their collections. Its adaptability allows a shift from cozy winter wear to breezy summer garments.
The sourcing of alpaca fleeces as the raw material for alpaca wool fabrics is generally sustainable. Alpaca wool fibers are considered a renewable resource.
Alpaca fiber has a thermal insulating power 7 times greater than sheep wool and does not emit any odor when wet. It is also 4x more resistant than sheep wool promising a much longer life span.
We are the world’s largest Alpaca breeders outside of the High Andean Regions of Peru (Puno, Cusco and Arequipa), in the Patagonian highlands. In our mountain properties, the Huacaya and Suri types have prospered for decades, with a strict genetic traceability and DNA improvement of many generations that gives us the best fiber in South America.
Alpacas are domestic animals living free, eating only 100% natural pasture. They drink from natural springs and typical wetlands of highlands usually located higher than 3,800 meters above sea level.
Shearing Alpacas is an ancient art: is done manually and with a lot of care, once a year. Animals are laid down on clean surfaces for not contaminating the fiber with natural residues.
Our masters of classification are experts that divide the fleeces following the Peruvian Technical Standards (NTP 231.301.2014): Royal (Super Baby), BL (Baby), FL (Fleece), Medium Fleece, HZ (Huarizo), AG (Thick) and MP (Short).
Although the alpacas are cleaned with a blower before shearing, some contamination remains, as it also gets picked out by hand. Washing is done 100% in our facilities in Chile. Alpacas love to dust-bathe, so tumbling helps us to reduce the amount of sand and dust further.
Once washed in Patagonia, the fiber is transferred to England and Italy to our sister woollen mills, where it’s combed on behalf of Lanas del Sur, responsible for selling the semi-processed product.
Next all fiber goes through the pickers, opening it without breakage and removing any tangles. Dehairing is done next for obtaining a high quality yarn, separating the guard hairs from the desired fine fibers, improving the softness. Then the carding machine aligns individual fibers into a parallel arrangement crucial to making an even and consistent yarn. Pindrafting is applied to remove thickness or thin defects. Spinning and plying, as skeining (conewinding) are the final steps.
Lanas del Sur produces over 1 million kilograms of wool and alpaca fibers every year
Wool’s main price determining characteristic is fineness, measured in units of micrometers (micron*). A micron (µ) denotes the diameter of the fibre and is equivalent to 1/1000 (1 thousand) of an mm (one micron equals one millionth of a meter).
14.6-16.5 μm
16.6-18.5 μm
18.6-20.5 μm
20.6-22.5 μm
20.6-24.5 μm
Our fibers are sold through our authorized textile manufacturers in Italy and England, official licensers.
The linen yarn process is done through the 100% controlled Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale. Brands that use our fibers are Marzotto Fabrics, Guabello, Marlane, Estethia / G.B. Conte, Tallia brothers of Delfino, Piedmontese Opera, Sondrio fabrics, New Tessilbrenta, Niedieck, Redaelli Velluti, Prosetex, Marzotto Home e Lanerossi.
The UK’s leading specialist yarn manufacturer. Laxtons offer a premium yarn product that promotes quality, traceability and, for many customers, a bespoke finish, tailored to their requirements. The Laxton name has been synonymous with spinning fancy and yarns since 1907.
Merino wool tops are stretched, but not set, during what is known as Optim™ processing, constructing the fabric at a very high level of thread density in warp and weft. It is only when the fabric is wet finished that the stretch is released, causing the yarns to contract, and the creation of the immensely dense fabric. Advancements using Optim™ processing and stretch technology have led to doublefaced fabrics, luxurious drape fabrics, and soft hand-feel qualities.
Engineering a garment with seamless knitting technology enhances wool’s performance benefits to create garments which are flexible, diverse, visually appealing and comfortable. Seamless knit and flat-knit technology from Santoni, STOLL, Shima Seiki and Karl Mayer is revolutionizing the use of Merino wool for seamless apparel and whole-garment constructions for base, mid, and outer layers. By engineering a garment to have features such as compression and breathability points on a single surface, it allows for greater structure diversity and comfort. What’s so unique about seamless apparel is that it allows for a combination of different patterns and knit stitches in different colours on the one piece of fabric.
Velvet, or velour when knitted, is a fabric prevalent in textile history and synonymous with luxury. The addition of wool elevates the already premium velvet fabric features whilst also adding an elegant drape, improved stain resistance and most importantly warmth and insulation to the end use product. Manufacturing both traditional velour
and velvet includes a shaving or thread cutting process which results in fibre shredding — wool’s natural properties mitigate excessive landfill contribution whilst avoiding chemical waste generation associated with synthetic velvet.
An increasing number of brands continue to remove traditional fur from their collections. Merino wool presents a natural alternative to animal hide and synthetics. Innovatively knitted from Merino wool yarn, wool faux fur fabrics are cropped and brushed to replicate a traditional fur or shearling look and feel. Garments created with wool faux fur have the added natural benefits of thermoregulation, breathability, odor resistance and the peace of mind that the fabric comes with a less impactful environmental solution than synthetic faux fur.
Digital printing has paved the way for near photographic printing on wool. Counter to traditional print methods, digital printing is quick and personalized, using direct-to-fabric machines minimizing the investment in screens, print tables and additional washing equipment. Similar to a home inkjet printer, fabric is passed under the head of the printer allowing for printing on smaller lengths of fabric, lessening its demand for water, chemicals and textile waste. Chemicals and water usage are significantly reduced when choosing digital printing, and inks can be recycled to minimize environmental impact.
Advancements in knitting technology have facilitated the use of wool in footwear. Combining wool with different yarns in a shoe upper draws on wool’s natural properties to promote dryness, breathability, freshness (anti-odor), comfort and warmth. With fully fashioned knitwear uppers, waste is reduced by directly mounting the shaped piece onto the sole of the shoe. Filament-wrapped wool yarns add strength and resistance to abrasion, extending the wear of the shoe.
85% of consumers agree that certified wool ensures quality. Leverage the reputation and authority of the our brand symbol to build consumer confidence.
Trace the origin of your wool fabrics through the supply chain when sourcing from our licensees.
We guarantee the fibre composition of wool garments and wool products with testing at independent laboratories.
Experience luxury redefined with Merino and Alpaca fibers, the epitome of sophistication in haute couture. Renowned for their exquisite softness, durability, and insulating properties, Merino wool and Alpaca fiber have become the go-to choice for top fashion designers worldwide.
Schoeller Textil AG is a textile manufacturer with headquarters in Switzerland. The globally-operating company specializes in the sustainable development and production of innovative textiles and textile technologies, which are leaders in niche markets worldwide. As a system supplier of solution-oriented products, Schoeller addresses specific customer requirements and supplies its customers and partners with tangible added value. The roots of the company go back as far as the year 1868.
AV-Holdings Australia (Australian Vergara Holdings PTY Ltd.) and Lanas del Sur are joining forces, heralding a new era of excellence in fine fiber production. As market leaders in the breeding of Merino sheep and Alpacas, with a combined total of over 800,000 head, this merger promises unparalleled quality and innovation.
By combining their expertise and resources, AV-Holdings Australia and Lanas del Sur are poised to set new standards in fine fiber production. From impeccably soft Merino wool to sumptuously plush Alpaca fibers, the merger promises an unparalleled range of premium materials for discerning clients worldwide.
